Common Woodshrike

<em>Tephrodornis pondicerianus</em>, the common woodshrike, is a small passerine bird belonging to the family Tephrodornithidae. It is native to South and Southeast Asia, distributed across the Indian subcontinent from Pakistan and Nepal through India and Sri Lanka, extending eastward into Myanmar, Thailand, and surrounding regions. The species inhabits open forests, forest edges, dry scrub woodland, and gardens, typically at low to moderate elevations. Adults are predominantly grey-brown above and whitish below, with a distinctive broad white supercilium and a dark mask through the eye, giving the bird a bold facial pattern. Biological traits such as average lifespan, precise body length, and weight remain poorly documented at the population level. The common woodshrike is typically seen in pairs or small groups, foraging actively for insects in the tree canopy and on branches. It has a loud, melodious call that is frequently heard in wooded habitats. The species builds a neat cup nest in trees, usually concealed by lichen and bark. <em>Tephrodornis pondicerianus</em> is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with populations considered stable across its broad range in South and Southeast Asia.