From Opus

Photo by Max Holdt
Waterberg, Namibia

Lanius minor

[edit] Identification

19-21cm
Adult

• Grey upperparts
• Black wings with white patch
• White sides to black tail
• Salmony-pink underparts
• Black facial mask includes the forehead

[edit] Confusion Species

Great Grey Shrike: the facial mask does not extend up to the forehead

Juvenile
Photo by Steve G
Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos, Greece, August 2003

[edit] Distribution

It breeds in south-eastern Europe and into Asia, wintering in tropical Asia and Africa.

It is a scarce but regular vagrant to western Europe, including Great Britain, usually as a spring overshoot.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Dry open lowlands.

[edit] Behaviour

Diet includes large insects, small birds, rodents and lizards.

Photo by Phylloscopus200
France, june 2006

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

• List of references

[edit] External Links