Page 360 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SHRIKES
Order Passeriformes Family Laniidae Species Lanius senator
Woodchat Shrike

rufous cap
bold white
shoulder patch white scapulars
with thin dark
grey-brown crescents
upperparts
MALE
white pale underside,
rump barred grey

IN FLIGHT JUVENILE
pale area
around eye
black and
white back
white “V”
on back
white below
FEMALE
black tail with
white at base

ike other shrikes,Woodchat Shrikes can MALE
Lbe remarkably obvious, perched on
overhead wires, trees, or bush tops, or
frustratingly difficult to find as they skulk
in thick cover.They are strikingly patterned and easy to identify.
In parts of southern Europe, they are common and many can be FLIGHT: strong, quick, low, undulating; swoops up
seen, for example, on a long journey by road.They feed on insects to perch.
and small birds, watching for these from a perch and
chasing or diving on them from above.
VOICE Short, chattering, hard notes in alarm; song
loud, quick, varied jumble of squeaks and warblers.
NESTING Untidy nest of grass and stems in low bush;
5 or 6 eggs; 1 brood;April–July.
FEEDING Takes big insects from ground or in air, after
watching from open perch; also catches small birds,
rodents, and lizards.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeding bird in Spain, Italy,
RED-BACKED SHRIKE
much larger juvenile, similar to S France, east to Balkans, and
juvenile; locally in C Europe. Seen from
see p.357 April to October, in bushy areas,
warmer coloration open countryside, orchards,
browner scapulars BOLD PERCH overgrown old gardens, and other
A feeding Woodchat Shrike keeps generally bushy places.
a keen eye out for large insects
MAGPIE and other potential prey. It may Seen in the UK
see p.363 JF M A M J JA S ON D
chase and capture smaller birds.
Length 17–19cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 25–30cm (10–12in) Weight 25–35g ( 7 ⁄8 –1 1 ⁄4oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan 3–5 years Status Vulnerable
358