Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
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Woodchat Shrike

Lanius senator Linnaeus, 1758

17–19 cmLength36 gWeight

The woodchat shrike (Lanius senator) is a member of the shrike family Laniidae.

Busiest months: April · Most records: Spain, Portugal, Israel

Near Threatened

Where and when it's recorded

Woodchat Shrike has been recorded at 614 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 73 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Desembocadura del Guadalhorce – ÁreaSpain1,056 records
  2. La Janda – ÁreaSpain634 records
  3. Azud de RiolobosSpain508 records
More places
  1. Antikythira Bird ObservatoryGreece484 records
  2. Monfragüe PNSpain427 records
  3. Doñana PN – Centro de Visitantes La RocinaSpain421 records
  4. PN Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina – CabranosaPortugal413 records
  5. Embalse de AlcollarínSpain367 records
  6. La Breña y Marismas de Barbate PNat – El CañilloSpain359 records
  7. Spata fieldsGreece346 records

Countries and regions with the most records

SpainPortugalIsraelGreeceMoroccoUnited Arab EmiratesTürkiyeKuwait

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The woodchat shrike (Lanius senator) is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It can be identified by its red-brown crown and nape. It is mainly insectivorous and favours open wooded areas with scattered trees such as orchards, particularly when there is bare or sandy ground.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Woodchat Shrike?

The Woodchat Shrike is about 17–19 cm long and weighs around 36 g.

Where does the Woodchat Shrike live?

Its breeding range: Palearctic: southwestern. It is most often recorded in Spain, Portugal and Israel.

When is the best time to see the Woodchat Shrike?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in April (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Woodchat Shrike endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Woodchat Shrike as Near Threatened.

What does the Woodchat Shrike eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Woodchat Shrike in?

It belongs to the family Shrikes (Laniidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
17–19 cm
Weight
36 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Migratory
Conservation
Near Threatened
More measurements
Wing
97 mm
Tail
75 mm
Bill
18 mm
Tarsus
24 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Palearctic: southwestern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Shrikes Laniidae
Genus
Lanius

Other birds in the genus Lanius

Long-tailed FiscalLong-tailed FiscalLanius cabanisiGrey-backed FiscalGrey-backed FiscalLanius excubitoroidesTaita FiscalTaita FiscalLanius dorsalisGreat Grey ShrikeGreat Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorSomali FiscalSomali FiscalLanius somalicusLoggerhead ShrikeLoggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianusGiant Grey ShrikeGiant Grey ShrikeLanius giganteusChinese Grey ShrikeChinese Grey ShrikeLanius sphenocercusIberian Grey ShrikeIberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisNorthern ShrikeNorthern ShrikeLanius borealisMasked ShrikeMasked ShrikeLanius nubicusSao Tome FiscalSao Tome FiscalLanius newtoni
Woodchat Shrike

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by naturpel. ↗

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