Woodchat Shrike

Lanius senator

A fierce little hunter with a striking red cap, this songbird doesn't play nice – it impales its prey on thorns.

Share this bird:

Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

17cm to 19cm

Wingspan

28cm to 32cm

Weight

25g to 40g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Red White Black

Secondary Colour

Brown

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown White

Secondary Colour (Female)

Grey

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Woodchat Shrike can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Woodchat Shrike can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Woodchat Shrike is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

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.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,400 meters

Climate zones

Mediterranean, Subtropical

Distribution Map

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:

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