Lesser Grey Shrike
Lanius minor
Aves › Passeriformes › Laniidae › Lanius
Conservation status: least_concern
The Lesser Grey Shrike is a compact predatory bird with striking black and white plumage, featuring a bold black mask across its eyes and pale grey upperparts that distinguish it from larger shrike species. It hunts insects and small animals from exposed perches, characteristically impaling its prey on thorns or barbed wire, and is known for its habit of perching upright on prominent posts and wires while scanning for food.
How To Identify
It possesses overall streaky grey plumage accented by distinctive rufous or reddish markings on the tail and underparts, giving it a striking appearance when seen in flight.
Habitat
It inhabits open and semi-open landscapes with scattered trees, including steppes, grasslands, cultivated areas, and sparse woodlands across southern Europe, Asia Minor, and central Asia.
Behaviour
This shrike hunts from exposed perches, scanning the ground for insects, small birds, and rodents with characteristic head-bobbing movements before making swift diving attacks.
Native Range
The lesser grey shrike is native to South and Central Europe and western Asia.
Did You Know?
The genus name, Lanius, comes from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also called "butcher birds" because of what they eat.
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