Lesser Grey Shrike

Brief Description

A medium-sized passerine bird known for its predatory behavior, slightly smaller than the Great Grey Shrike, with a distinctive black forehead mask and thick hooked bill.

Additional Information

• Region of Origin: South-eastern Europe through Central Asia; migrates to Southern Africa
• Typical Sighting Period: Summer in breeding grounds (April-August); Southern Hemisphere summer in wintering grounds (November-March)
• Plumage Details: Features a black mask across the eyes and forehead, gray upperparts, white underparts with a pinkish tint, and black wings with a prominent white wing patch.
• Ecological Significance: Acts as an important insectivore, controlling populations of large insects like beetles and grasshoppers; occasionally preys on small lizards and birds.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN), though populations are declining in parts of Western and Central Europe.
• Observation Tips: Look for them perched on high, exposed vantage points like telephone wires or the tops of bushes in open grasslands and farmland.