Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor (Linnaeus, 1758)
SR
GRGSH
15200
Family: Passeriformes > Laniidae
This striking, grey, black and white passerine is a winter visitor to UK heathlands in small numbers.
The Great Grey Shrike has always been a scarce winter visitor to the UK. Numbers fluctuate wildly and in some winters fewer than 10 birds might be recorded. Like most birds escaping the frozen north, the numbers occurring here are dependent on the availability of food (small birds and rodents in the case of Great Grey Shrike) closer to their breeding grounds.
In the UK, lowland heathland is the preferred habitat where it is well known for creating larders, typically a thorn bush in which food is stored impaled. Some individuals return to traditional sites, while others are more transient. Consequently the Bird Atlas 2007–11 distribution map based on four winters shows a wider distribution than might be expected in a single winter.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Great Grey Shrike
Identification
Great Grey Shrike identification is usually straightforward.
SONGS AND CALLS
Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Great Grey Shrike, provided by xeno-canto contributors.
Call
Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Least Concern |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
|
Listed on the Annexes of
|
Bern(III) |
POPULATION SIZE
| UK (winter) | 98 (2012-17) |
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
1544 |
DISTRIBUTION
The winter distribution of Great Grey Shrikes is wide but strangely clumped, extending through most of Britain except western Scotland; there were no accepted winter records in Ireland. East coast records often involve late passage birds. Extensive areas of prime habitat, such as the New Forest, Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Thames Basin Heaths, regularly hold more than one active winter territory.
-
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 294 |
| % occupied in winter | 9.7 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +2.5% |
SEASONALITY
Great Grey Shrike is a scarce autumn passage migrant and rare winter visitor. Some individuals are long-staying and may return to the same location year after year.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
An overview of year-round movements for the whole of Europe can be seen on the EuroBirdPortal viewer.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Great Grey Shrike, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
|
Number of Broods
|
1 |
|
Egg Size
|
26×20 mm Weight = 5.3 g (of which 6% is shell) |
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Ring size
|
C |
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: SR | 5-letter code: GRGSH | Euring: 15200 |
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