Common Wood-Shrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus)
Order: PASSERIFORMES
Family: CAMPEPHAGIDAE Cuckoo-Shrikes, Minivets
Scientific name: Tephrodornis pondicerianus
English name: Common Wood-Shrike
Characteristic: Size 15 - 16 cm. A small-sized bird which possessing longer and thicker bill than those of other bushlarks. Its reddish brown flight featers are conspicuous both in flight and at rest; upperpart brown with darker streaking; theoat white; underpart paler yellowish brown with dark streaks on breast; a pale supercilium is distinct; end of which touching the white streaks on nape.
Distribution: "India, to Southeast Asia, except Peninsular Malaysia."
Habitat: "Observed living mainly in open grounds, agricultural areas, from the plain to the foothill. In Sakaerat area, it inhabits the dry dipterocarp forest and grass fields in that forest type."
Habit: "Foraging singly; occasionally in pairs or insmall flocks. It is terrestrial in feeding habit and searching for plant seeds, grass seeds, insects and insect larvae. At times, seen perching on bushes, on rocks or on fences. Breeds from March to July; when a tent-like nest is built of dry grass leaves on ground or pucked under grass tussocks. A clutch of 2 - 3 eggs of light brown colour spotted with dark brown will be laid. They require 12 days for incubaton."
Status: This lark is an uncommon resident in Sakaerat forest. It is also a protected wild animal according to our wildife law.
