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;[[:Category:Lanius|Lanius]] excubitor | ;[[:Category:Lanius|Lanius]] excubitor | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | [[Image:Northern Shrike, Wellsboro, PA.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Northern Shrike, Wellsboro, PA.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''L. e. borealis''<br />Photo by {{user|GaryT|GaryT}}<br />Wellsboro, [[Pennsylvania]], [[USA]], March 2009]] |
Length 22-26 cm (8½-10¼ in), weight 50-80 g<br /> | Length 22-26 cm (8½-10¼ in), weight 50-80 g<br /> | ||
'''Adult''' | '''Adult''' | ||
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In Europe, [[Southern Grey Shrike]] and [[Lesser Grey Shrike]] are potential confusion species, and in North America, [[Loggerhead Shrike]]. | In Europe, [[Southern Grey Shrike]] and [[Lesser Grey Shrike]] are potential confusion species, and in North America, [[Loggerhead Shrike]]. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | |||
Northern [[Dictionary_P-S#P|Palearctic]], Holarctic, and Oriental regions. | Northern [[Dictionary_P-S#P|Palearctic]], Holarctic, and Oriental regions. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
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>. | 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==== | ||
| + | [[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 ]] | ||
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 /> | 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''' | ||
Revision as of 23:47, 4 February 2017
Includes: Northern Shrike
- Lanius excubitor
Identification
Length 22-26 cm (8½-10¼ in), weight 50-80 g
Adult
- Grey head and back
- White belly, throat, flanks and chest (flanks often faintly barred pale grey in females, more strongly so in the Northern Shrike group)
- 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, more strongly barred brown below and with a brownish wash; mask indistinct brownish.
Similar species
In Europe, Southern Grey Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike are potential confusion species, and in North America, Loggerhead Shrike.
Distribution
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
Photo by IanF
Coatham Wood, Longnewton, County Durham, UK, February 2012
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. borealis: Eastern Canada (northern areas of Labrador, Quebec, and Ontario); winters south to northeastern USA
- L. e. invictus: Northern Alaska to extreme northern British Columbia and east to northern Manitoba; winters south to northwestern USA
Photo by eastwood
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada, December 2006
Habitat
Open upland forests and bogs with scattered trees. In winter, heathland, and sometimes farmland.
Behaviour
Diet
Diet includes large insects, small mammals and birds and it often stores uneaten prey by impaling it on thorns. 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, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. 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 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Great_Grey_Shrike
External Links
This link searches for videos of Great Grey Shrike
