About Hypocolius ampelinus Bonaparte, 1850
The grey hypocolius, scientific name Hypocolius ampelinus Bonaparte, 1850, is a slim bird species with a long tail, a slight crest, and a thick, short hook-tipped bill. Its body shape and soft, satiny plumage resemble those of the waxwing. Individuals are mainly a uniform grey or brownish-grey overall; males have a black triangular mask around their eyes. The species has white-tipped black primary wing feathers and a black terminal band on the tail. Adult grey hypocolius measure 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in) in total length. When the bird is excited, the feathers on its head are raised. It flies in a straight, non-undulating pattern, and when hopping through shrubbery, it can look similar to a babbler. Its tarsus is short and sturdy, covered in coarse scales. Visible rictal bristles are present at the base of the bill, and the nostrils are exposed, small, and oval-shaped. The grey hypocolius ranges across the Middle East. It breeds in the region encompassing Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. Most individuals winter near the Red Sea and Persian Gulf coasts of Arabia, including Bahrain. The species is a vagrant in Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and Oman. It is a regular winter visitor to the Kutch and Jamnagar region of western India, and vagrants have been recorded as far south as Kihim near Bombay. It inhabits woodland and scrub in arid and semiarid regions, especially river valleys near deserts. It can also be found in irrigated and cultivated areas with trees, sea coastal areas, palm groves, and gardens.
