25 CMS.,ALSO CALLED AS RUFOUS BACKED SHRIKE. THE COMMONEST SHRIKE THROUGHOUT MOST OF ITS RANGE.SEPARATED FROM MOST OTHER GREY MANTLED SHRIKES BY THE RUFOUS FLANKS AND LONG TAIL.FAVOURS DRY OPEN HABITATS AND IS FOUND PERCHED PROMINENTLY ATOP A BUSH OR ON A WIRE.THE DARK MASK THROUGH THE EYE IS BROAD AND COVERS THE FOREHEAD IN MOST SUBSPECIES AND THE WHOLE HEAD IS BLACK IN SUBSPECIES TRICOLOR AND NASUTUS.THE TAIL IS NARROW AND GRADUATED WITH PALE RUFOUS ON THE OUTER FEATHERS.A SMALL AMOUNT OF WHITE IS PRESENT AT THE BASE OF THE PRIMARIES.