“The Great Grey Shrike: A Predatory Songbird of the Northern Hemisphere”

The great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) stands as a formidable and sizable member of the shrike family (Laniidae), showcasing its predatory prowess. Belonging to a superspecies alongside its southern counterparts—the Iberian grey shrike (L. meridionalis), the Chinese grey shrike (L. sphenocerus), and the American loggerhead shrike (L. ludovicianus)—this avian species captivates with its shared characteristics.   

Males and females exhibit strikingly similar plumage, adorned in pearly grey above, accented by a distinctive black eye-mask, and complemented by white underparts. Breeding predominantly occurs north of 50° northern latitude in northern Europe and Asia, while winter prompts migration southward to temperate regions for most populations.

As a carnivorous species, the great grey shrike sustains itself on a diet heavily comprised of rodents, exemplifying its role as a skilled hunter and predator in its ecological niche.