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'''Alternative name: Northern Shrike''' | '''Alternative name: Northern Shrike''' | ||
| − | [[Image:Northern_Shrike.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|rayh|rayh}}<br /> [[Spurn Peninsula|Spurn Point]], [[England]], October 2003]] | + | [[Image:Northern_Shrike.jpg|thumb|450px|right|''L. e. excubitor'', first-winter<br>Photo by {{user|rayh|rayh}}<br /> [[Spurn Peninsula|Spurn Point]], [[England]], October 2003]] |
;[[:Category:Lanius|Lanius]] excubitor | ;[[:Category:Lanius|Lanius]] excubitor | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
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'''Adult''' | '''Adult''' | ||
*Grey head and back | *Grey head and back | ||
| − | *White belly, throat and chest | + | *White belly, throat, flanks and chest (flanks often faintly barred pale grey in females) |
| − | *Black wings with white patch | + | *Black wings with white patch at base of primaries |
| − | *Medium-long tail black with white outer feathers | + | *Medium-long tail, black with white outer feathers |
| − | *Black mask on face | + | *Black mask on face extending to base of bill, but not over top of bill |
| − | *Distinctive stout, hooked bill | + | *Distinctive stout, hooked black bill |
'''Juvenile''' | '''Juvenile''' | ||
| − | * | + | *In the European group [see Subspecies, below], similar to adult except duller and faintly barred, with dark grey where adult black, and slight pinkish base to bill. |
| − | * | + | *In the Northern Shrike group, barred brown below and with a brownish wash above. |
| + | ====Similar species==== | ||
| + | In Europe, [[Southern Grey Shrike]] and [[Lesser Grey Shrike]] are potential confusion species, and in North America, [[Loggerhead Shrike]]. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Image:IMG 8831anr.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|IanF|IanF}}<br />Coatham Wood, Longnewton, [[County Durham]], [[UK]], February 2012 ]] | + | [[Image:IMG 8831anr.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''L. e. excubitor'', first-winter<br>Photo by {{user|IanF|IanF}}<br />Coatham Wood, Longnewton, [[County Durham]], [[UK]], February 2012 ]] |
Northern [[Dictionary_P-S#P|Palearctic]], Holarctic, and Oriental regions. | Northern [[Dictionary_P-S#P|Palearctic]], Holarctic, and Oriental regions. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Was formerly considered conspecific with [[Southern Grey Shrike]]. | + | Complex, and in need of major revision<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. Was formerly considered conspecific with [[Southern Grey Shrike]], and some populations of this may need to be returned to Great Grey Shike<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. |
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| − | This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#P|polytipic]] species consisting of nine subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.<br /> | + | This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#P|polytipic]] species currently treated as consisting of nine subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> in three groups, which may represent separate species.<br /> |
'''European Group''' | '''European Group''' | ||
| − | *''L. e. excubitor | + | *''L. e. excubitor'': Western and northern [[Europe]] to western [[Siberia]] |
| − | *''L. e. homeyeri | + | *''L. e. homeyeri'': Balkan Peninsula to southern Ural Mountains and western Siberia |
*''L. e. leucopterus'': Western Siberia to Yenisey River<br /> | *''L. e. leucopterus'': Western Siberia to Yenisey River<br /> | ||
'''Asian Group''' | '''Asian Group''' | ||
| Line 30: | Line 32: | ||
*''L. e. mollis'': [[Russia|Russian]] Altai and north-western Mongolia | *''L. e. mollis'': [[Russia|Russian]] Altai and north-western Mongolia | ||
*''L. e. funereus'': Western [[China]] (Tien Shan Mountains)<br /> | *''L. e. funereus'': Western [[China]] (Tien Shan Mountains)<br /> | ||
| − | '''American Group''' | + | '''American Group''' ('''Northern Shrike''') |
*''L. e. invictus'': Northern [[Alaska]] to extreme northern [[British Columbia]] and [[Alberta]] | *''L. e. invictus'': Northern [[Alaska]] to extreme northern [[British Columbia]] and [[Alberta]] | ||
*''L. e. borealis'': Eastern [[Canada]] ([[Quebec]] and northern [[Ontario]]); winters to north eastern [[US]] | *''L. e. borealis'': Eastern [[Canada]] ([[Quebec]] and northern [[Ontario]]); winters to north eastern [[US]] | ||
| Line 40: | Line 42: | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
====Song==== | ====Song==== | ||
| − | A complex and variable medley of short liquid trills, whistles, chatter and harsh notes | + | A complex and variable medley of short liquid trills, whistles, chatter and harsh notes. The Northern Shrike often mimics the calls and songs of other birds such as [[Blue Jay]]s, [[Gray Catbird]]s, [[American Robin]]s, and [[Song Sparrow]]s. |
<flashmp3>Lanius excubitor (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />''[[Media:Lanius excubitor (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | <flashmp3>Lanius excubitor (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />''[[Media:Lanius excubitor (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| Line 46: | Line 48: | ||
A harsh ''shek-shek'', grating ''jaaeg'', rapid rasping ''aak...aak'', a sharp metallic ''beek.'' | A harsh ''shek-shek'', grating ''jaaeg'', rapid rasping ''aak...aak'', a sharp metallic ''beek.'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}} | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#Olsson, U. et al. (2009). The ''Lanius excubitor'' (Aves, Passeriformes) conundrum—Taxonomic dilemma |
| + | when molecular and non-molecular data tell different stories. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 55: 347–357. | ||
| + | # | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 23:39, 23 November 2014
Alternative name: Northern Shrike
- Lanius excubitor
Identification
22-26 cm
Adult
- Grey head and back
- White belly, throat, flanks and chest (flanks often faintly barred pale grey in females)
- Black wings with white patch at base of primaries
- Medium-long tail, black with white outer feathers
- Black mask on face extending to base of bill, but not over top of bill
- Distinctive stout, hooked black bill
Juvenile
- In the European group [see Subspecies, below], similar to adult except duller and faintly barred, with dark grey where adult black, and slight pinkish base to bill.
- In the Northern Shrike group, barred brown below and with a brownish wash above.
Similar species
In Europe, Southern Grey Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike are potential confusion species, and in North America, Loggerhead Shrike.
Distribution
L. e. excubitor, first-winter
Photo by IanF
Coatham Wood, Longnewton, County Durham, UK, February 2012
Photo by IanF
Coatham Wood, Longnewton, County Durham, UK, February 2012
Northern Palearctic, Holarctic, and Oriental regions.
Taxonomy
Complex, and in need of major revision[2]. Was formerly considered conspecific with Southern Grey Shrike, and some populations of this may need to be returned to Great Grey Shike[2].
Subspecies
This is a polytipic species currently treated as consisting of nine subspecies[1] in three groups, which may represent separate species.
European Group
- L. e. excubitor: Western and northern Europe to western Siberia
- L. e. homeyeri: Balkan Peninsula to southern Ural Mountains and western Siberia
- L. e. leucopterus: Western Siberia to Yenisey River
Asian Group
- L. e. sibiricus: Eastern Siberia to northern Mongolia and Kamchatka Peninsula
- L. e. bianchii: Sakhalin and southern Kuril Islands (northern Japan)
- L. e. mollis: Russian Altai and north-western Mongolia
- L. e. funereus: Western China (Tien Shan Mountains)
American Group (Northern Shrike)
- L. e. invictus: Northern Alaska to extreme northern British Columbia and Alberta
- L. e. borealis: Eastern Canada (Quebec and northern Ontario); winters to north eastern US
Habitat
Upland forests and bogs.
Behaviour
Diet
Diet includes large insects, small mammals and birds and it often stores uneaten prey by impaling it on thorns. This habit has earned it the nickname "butcher bird". They commonly hunt from a very high perch usually a tall tree top.
Vocalisation
Song
A complex and variable medley of short liquid trills, whistles, chatter and harsh notes. The Northern Shrike often mimics the calls and songs of other birds such as Blue Jays, Gray Catbirds, American Robins, and Song Sparrows.
<flashmp3>Lanius excubitor (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Call
A harsh shek-shek, grating jaaeg, rapid rasping aak...aak, a sharp metallic beek.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Olsson, U. et al. (2009). The Lanius excubitor (Aves, Passeriformes) conundrum—Taxonomic dilemma
when molecular and non-molecular data tell different stories. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 55: 347–357.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Great Grey Shrike. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Great_Grey_Shrike
External Links
This link searches for Great Grey Shrike
