Dharamshala, Oct. 9 -- Two species of shrikes - the red-backed shrike and red-tailed shrike - have been recorded in Himachal Pradesh for the first time at Pong lake, one of the major stopover sites for migratory birds.

The birds were spotted and documented by noted birder and ornithological researcher Abhinav Chaudhary in the Nagrota Surian area of the lake. The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) and red-tailed shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) are closely related, medium-sized carnivorous passerine birds belonging to the shrike family, Laniidae.

Chaudhary, who has documented several species in the past, said the red-tailed shrike was first sighted on the morning of September 13, followed by the red-backed shrike on September 20. Both bir...