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Great Grey Shrike - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 19:18, 27 December 2007 by BigRedBirder (talk | contribs) (→‎Voice)
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Lanius excubitor
Photo by rayh
Adult

Identification

Also known as Great Grey Shrike.

22-26 cm.

Adult

  • Grey head and back
  • White belly, throat and chest
  • Black wings with white patch
  • Medium-long tail black with white outer feathers
  • Black mask on face
  • Distinctive stout, hooked bill

Juvenile

  • Barred brown below
  • Brownish wash above


Distribution

Europe

Taxonomy

Habitat

Upland forests and bogs.

Behaviour

Diet includes small mammals and birds and often store uneaten prey by impaling it on thorns. This habit has earned them the nickname "butcher birds."

Voice

Song

A complex and variable medley of short liquid trills, whistles, chatter and harsh notes and often mimic 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

External Links

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