Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senator
Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 36 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Laniidae Shrikes
- Genus Lanius
- Species senator
Quick facts
- Weight
- 36 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Woodchat Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Woodchat Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) belongs to the Laniidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sw.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 36 g, with a wing length of about 9.7 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Woodchat Shrike?
The Woodchat Shrike is a small bird that weighs around 36 g.
Where does the Woodchat Shrike live?
The Woodchat Shrike is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sw, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Woodchat Shrike belong to?
The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Woodchat Shrike eat?
The Woodchat Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Woodchat Shrike migrate?
The Woodchat Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Woodchat Shrike endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Woodchat Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Woodchat 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 Woodchat Shrike's range?
The Woodchat Shrike has a mapped global range of about 2.6 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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