Photo: Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chinese Grey Shrike
Lanius sphenocercus
Chinese Grey Shrike (Lanius sphenocercus) — 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 Chinese Grey Shrike (Lanius sphenocercus) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 92.1 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 sphenocercus
Where it lives
Eastern Mongolia, southeastern Russia, northeastern China and northern, central Korean Pen.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 92.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chinese Grey Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Chinese Grey Shrike is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Chinese Grey Shrike (Lanius sphenocercus) belongs to the Laniidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL e Mongolia, se Russia, ne China and n, c Korean Pen.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 92.1 g, with a wing length of about 12 cm and a tail of around 14.2 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chinese Grey Shrike?
The Chinese Grey Shrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 92.1 g.
Where does the Chinese Grey Shrike live?
The Chinese Grey Shrike is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL e Mongolia, se Russia, ne China and n, c Korean Pen, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Chinese Grey Shrike belong to?
The Chinese Grey Shrike (Lanius sphenocercus) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chinese Grey Shrike eat?
The Chinese Grey Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Chinese Grey Shrike migrate?
The Chinese Grey Shrike is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Chinese Grey 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 Chinese Grey Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Chinese Grey Shrike — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chinese Grey Shrike's range?
The Chinese Grey Shrike has a mapped global range of about 1.9 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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