Photo: Claudia Becher / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Masked Shrike
Lanius nubicus
Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 19.7 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 nubicus
Where it lives
Eastern Greece and Bulgaria through southern Turkey to Israel and Iran
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Masked Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Masked Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) belongs to the Laniidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL e Greece and Bulgaria through s Turkey to Israel and Iran.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.7 g, with a wing length of about 9 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 353,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Masked Shrike?
The Masked Shrike is a small bird that weighs around 19.7 g.
Where does the Masked Shrike live?
The Masked Shrike is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL e Greece and Bulgaria through s Turkey to Israel and Iran, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Masked Shrike belong to?
The Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Masked Shrike eat?
The Masked Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Masked Shrike migrate?
The Masked Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Masked 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 Masked Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Masked Shrike — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Masked Shrike's range?
The Masked Shrike has a mapped global range of about 353,000 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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