Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor · Shrikes
The Great Grey Shrike is a predatory songbird, known for its distinctive grey, white, and black plumage and a stout, hooked bill. Often called the "butcher bird," it exhibits a unique hunting behavior of impaling prey. This species is widespread across the Holarctic region, inhabiting diverse open landscapes.
Explore the full field guideMigratoryMedium-sizedVaried songCarnivorous
2 calls·first heard Jul 6·last 66d ago
When it's heardpeak 4a · fall
5a12p9p
How to know it
- Adults are pearl grey above, with white underparts that may have a slight grey tinge.
- A prominent black mask extends from the beak through the eye to the ear coverts.
- Black wings feature a noticeable white bar, and the long, pointed black tail has white outer feathers.
- The bill is black and hooked at the tip, with a pale base on the lower mandible.