Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor
Lanius excubitor
The great grey shrike is the largest member of the shrike family in Europe. They spend their winters here in the UK, arriving in the autumn.
When it comes to spotting a great grey shrike, you'll rarely find more than one together - this is because they are extremely territorial. They have a distinctive black mask and grey plumage, long tails and are a medium-sized bird.
Other birds tend to mob shrikes as they are recognized as a predator by them.
Their diets mainly consist of small mammals, birds and insects. They often store food by impaling it on thorns, almost in a make-shift 'larder'!
