Lanius excubitor - Great Grey Shrike
Feather characters. Barbules are of medium length (1.3-1.6 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented or partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Bell-shaped and diamond-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (24-30 per mm). The nodes slightly decrease in size towards distal end of the barbules and are sometimes only slightly thickened distally. Villi are rounded and internodes are occasionally kinked. Prongs are absent. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented nodes combined with rounded villi. Only the shape of nodes and internodes is different: nodes are diamond-shaped as well as bell-shaped with kinked internodes.
Field characters. Size 24 cm. Weight 65.6 g (61.8-69.0) (Dunning, 1993). Plumage black, grey and white. Larger than Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor, not included in BRIS). Black bill, mask, wings and tail, with white bar on wing, especially obvious in flight, and on sides of tail. Scapulars white or very light grey, showing as white band above black wings. Narrow white line above mask. Crown, neck and back grey, underparts greyish-white. Black of mask does not extend on forehead, unlike Lesser Grey Shrike. Sexes alike, female somewhat duller. Juvenile with much reduced black mask; upperparts grey-brown; underparts buff with grey-brown bars. Like other shrikes often sits on exposed perch in hunched posture, looking for prey. Wags and swings broad tail from side to side like Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio, not included in BRIS). Flight undulating. Agressive against intruders: even larger raptors are harassed. In winter obvious, but secretive during breeding season.
Voice. Call 'sheck' or 'truu'. Song subdued, with harsh and clear whistling notes.
Distribution. Rather scarce, but widespread. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Breeds on moors, bogs, and pastures with scattered trees. In winter found in a wider variety of open habitats, but always with scattered bushes.
Food. Large insects and vertebrates, like small mammals, birds, and lizards. Hunts from perch like other shrikes, but also frequently hovers. Also caches prey by impaling it on thorns, barbed wire, etc.