| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | '''Alternative name: Great Grey Shrike''' | ||
[[category:incomplete]] | [[category:incomplete]] | ||
| − | ;Lanius excubitor | + | ;[[:Category:Lanius|Lanius]] excubitor |
[[Image:Northern_Shrike.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by rayh<br/>Adult]] | [[Image:Northern_Shrike.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by rayh<br/>Adult]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | |||
22-26 cm. | 22-26 cm. | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | + | Northern Palearctic, Holarctic, and Oriental regions. | |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Polytypic. Consists of nine subspecies. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Upland forests and bogs. | Upland forests and bogs. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 37: | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Lanius+excubitor}} | {{GSearch|Lanius+excubitor}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Lanius]] |
Revision as of 18:23, 30 July 2008
Alternative name: Great Grey Shrike
- Lanius excubitor
Identification
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
Northern Palearctic, Holarctic, and Oriental regions.
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of nine subspecies.
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." Northern Shrikes commonly hunt from a very high perch usually a tall tree top.
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
