Small, plain shrike of dry, open areas with low shrubby cover. Gray-backed and white-bellied, with a black mask and a rusty tail and crown. Very similar to the closely related Isabelline Shrike, but look out for Red-tailed’s stronger white brow, reddish crown instead of a gray one, and cleaner underparts. Perches on exposed bushtops, posts, and wires, from which it primarily hunts for insects and arachnids. Like other closely related small shrikes, incorporates mimicry into songs and gives harsh, rasping calls.