Great Grey shrike

    Lanius excubitor

Castilian: Alcaudón norteño

Catalan: Botxí septentrional

Gallego: Picanzo Real setentrional

Euskera:

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Laniidae

Migratory status: Occasional resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

This species does not belong to any protection category.

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THREATS

Length / size: 24 cm / 35 cm

Identification: Similar to the southern grey shrike but with paler colours and no contrast. It has a small black facial disc and its black wings have white spots that are larger than those of the southern grey shrike.

Song: Simple song in which it combines strident and hoarse tones with "chrrrp" chirps.

Diet: It feeds on large insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets and beetles, and also on mice, reptiles and moles.

Reproduction:

HABITAT

It shows a preference for open areas near forests, but it is also distributed throughout farming areas.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain:

In Castile and León:

Movements and migrations: The species nests in central Europe without reaching the Mediterranean region. It is sometimes confused with southern grey shrike specimens because of their similar plumage, and this leads people to believe that it nests in the peninsula.

POPULATION

In Spain:

In Castile and León: