Great Grey Shrike Bird Facts (Lanius excubitor)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Great Grey Shrike is a medium-sized passerine with a distinctive appearance. It has a pale grey body, white underparts, and a striking black mask across its eyes. The wings are black with white patches, and the tail is long and black with white outer feathers.

Females have the same markings as males and may be indistinguishable from a distance, but on closer inspection, they have a slightly brownish wash.

Juveniles show a duller plumage and faint barring on the underparts. The bird maintains its plumage year-round, with no significant seasonal changes.

Size

Length

22cm to 26cm

Wingspan

30cm to 36cm

Weight

60g to 70g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey White Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Great Grey Shrike can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Great Grey Shrike can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Great Grey Shrike can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Great Grey Shrike is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Great Grey Shrikes inhabit open landscapes with scattered trees and shrubs, including woodland edges, heathland, and farmland. They are found across northern Europe, Asia, and North America, with a preference for boreal and temperate regions.

In the UK, they are primarily winter visitors arriving from Scandinavia. Small numbers can be spotted in suitable habitats across England and Scotland from October to March.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,800 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Great Grey Shrike. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Albania Algeria Andorra Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Burkina Faso Cameroon Chad China Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Germany Gibraltar Hungary India Iran Iraq Israel Italy Jordan Kazakhstan Kuwait Latvia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Mali Mauritania Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Slovakia Somalia South Sudan Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Tajikistan Tunisia Ukraine United Arab Emirates Western Sahara Yemen

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Nepal Russia Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bulgaria Croatia Georgia Greece Kyrgyzstan Macedonia Moldova Slovenia The United Kingdom Turkey

Species that pass through the area during migration

Lebanon

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Brunei Cyprus Equatorial Guinea Faroe Islands Gambia Ghana Iceland Ireland Malta

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Great Grey Shrike demonstrates remarkable agility in flight, capable of hovering like kestrels when hunting and performing aerial displays during courtship. Their ability to spot and capture small, swift prey from a distance indicates excellent manoeuvrability.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not exceptionally strong for their size, Great Grey Shrikes possess sufficient strength to capture and impale their prey on thorns or barbed wire. Their ability to handle a variety of prey, including small mammals and birds, suggests moderate strength.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These birds show considerable adaptability, inhabiting a range of open landscapes from sea level to 2,800 metres elevation. Their varied diet and ability to create food 'larders' demonstrate resourcefulness. However, their sensitivity to habitat changes slightly limits this score.

Aggressiveness 70

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Great Grey Shrikes exhibit notable aggression in their predatory behaviour, earning the nickname 'butcher bird'. Their carnivorous diet and method of impaling prey indicate a relatively high level of aggression for a bird of this size.

Endurance 65

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

While not known for exceptional endurance, Great Grey Shrikes undertake partial migrations and can survive in harsh northern climates. Their 'sit-and-wait' hunting strategy suggests they conserve energy efficiently, but their relatively short lifespan of 3-5 years indicates moderate endurance.

Diet

Great Grey Shrikes are carnivorous, primarily feeding on small mammals, birds, and large insects. Voles make up the largest element of their diet.

They are known for their unique habit of impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire, creating 'larders' to store food for later consumption. This behaviour has earned them the nickname 'butcher bird'.

They are also skilled at removing the outer skin or feathers of a reptile or bird, meaning they are able to eat a wider range of prey than many other species by removing any toxic or poisonous spines or spikes. Pellets containing undigested parts, such as bones and hair, are later ejected.

Behaviour

Great Grey Shrikes are solitary birds, often seen perched atop prominent lookouts such as fence posts or treetops. They employ a 'sit-and-wait' hunting strategy, scanning the ground for prey.

When threatened, they may perform a distinctive tail-pumping display, raising and lowering their tail repeatedly.

Vocalisation

Great Grey Shrikes have a varied vocal repertoire. Their calls include harsh, chattering notes and a distinctive 'shack-shack' alarm call.

During the breeding season, males produce a warbling song that includes mimicry of other bird species, often delivered from a prominent perch.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding typically occurs from April to July. Males perform aerial displays and offer food to attract mates. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding season.

Nests are built in trees or tall shrubs, using twigs, grass, and moss lined with softer materials. Females lay 5-7 eggs, which are pale green or buff with brown spots.

Incubation lasts about 16 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 19-20 days but remain dependent on adults for several weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While listed as Least Concern globally, Great Grey Shrike populations are declining in parts of Europe due to habitat loss.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable open habitats with scattered trees and bushes, crucial for their hunting and nesting needs.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

Unknown

Global Population Trend

^[2]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Northern Shrike, Northern Grey Shrike, Butcher Bird

Family:

Laniidae

Average Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Predators

Main predators include larger birds of prey such as hawks and owls, as well as mammalian predators like foxes and martens.

Did You Know?

Great Grey Shrikes can hover like kestrels when hunting.
They have exceptionally sharp eyesight, spotting small prey from 50 meters away.
In some regions, they are considered indicators of environmental health due to their sensitivity to habitat changes.