The male Tiger Shrike has a gray head, a black facial mask, and a reddish-brown, barred back. Most individuals migrate seasonally.
An adult male has a gray head and black facial mask, with a reddish-brown back crossed by black bars. Females resemble males but have a paler mask and browner upperparts.
On its wintering grounds it often stays hidden in bushes and gleans insects from branches and foliage. Most individuals move between breeding and wintering areas, although some Japanese populations are resident.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.