Photo: Daniel Bastaja, http://www.birdingfaqs.com/ / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Grey Shrike
Lanius minor
Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 13 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 46.5 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 minor
Where it lives
Southern Europe to southern Russia, south to Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 46.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser 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 Lesser Grey Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) is a member of the Laniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL s Europe to s Russia, s to Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 46.5 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 8.8 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 8.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Grey Shrike?
The Lesser Grey Shrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 46.5 g.
Where does the Lesser Grey Shrike live?
The Lesser Grey Shrike is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL s Europe to s Russia, s to Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Lesser Grey Shrike belong to?
The Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Lesser Grey Shrike eat?
The Lesser Grey Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Lesser Grey Shrike migrate?
The Lesser Grey Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Lesser 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 Lesser Grey Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser Grey 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 Lesser Grey Shrike's range?
The Lesser Grey Shrike has a mapped global range of about 8.4 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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Guides for this bird
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