Lanius senator
The Woodchat Shrike is a striking small bird with a distinctive appearance. Males have a reddish-brown crown and nape, contrasting sharply with a black mask and white forehead. The back is black, while the underparts are white with a pinkish tinge.
Females are duller, with brown upperparts and faint barring on the underparts, that may include a white eyering and a streak extending behind the eye. Both sexes have a hooked black bill and black legs. Juveniles resemble females but have more extensive barring.
Length
17cm to 19cm
Wingspan
28cm to 32cm
Weight
25g to 40g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Woodchat Shrikes inhabit open woodland, scrubland, and farmland with scattered trees and bushes. They breed across southern Europe, parts of North Africa, and the Middle East. Their range extends from Portugal to Iran, with the highest densities in Mediterranean regions.
During winter, they migrate to sub-Saharan Africa. In the UK, they are rare visitors, occasionally seen in coastal areas during spring and autumn migration.
Recent sightings have been made on the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, and Somerset. The closest reliable venues where UK birders can spot this species are in France.
Up to 2,400 meters
Mediterranean, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Woodchat Shrike. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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