Photo: Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bull-headed Shrike
Lanius bucephalus
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 39.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Laniidae Shrikes
- Genus Lanius
- Species bucephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 39.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bull-headed Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Bull-headed Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus) is a member of the Laniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL e.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 39.4 g, with a wing length of about 8.4 cm and a tail of around 8.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bull-headed Shrike?
The Bull-headed Shrike is a small bird that weighs around 39.4 g.
Where does the Bull-headed Shrike live?
The Bull-headed Shrike is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL e, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Bull-headed Shrike belong to?
The Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bull-headed Shrike eat?
The Bull-headed Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Bull-headed Shrike migrate?
The Bull-headed Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Bull-headed Shrike endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Bull-headed Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Bull-headed Shrike — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bull-headed Shrike's range?
The Bull-headed Shrike has a mapped global range of about 1.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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