Name

Lanius meridionalis

Southern grey shrike

Framing

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Genus: Lanius

Species: meridionalis

Habitat

Terrestrial. In grasslands or areas of scrubland with scattered trees or tall shrubs. It prefers warm or xeric environments and is absent from areas where the Eurosiberian climate predominates.

Feeding

Predator of arthropods and small vertebrates.

Distribution

Iberian Peninsula and South of France

Conservation status

Vulnerable globally according to the IUCN Red List (2020). 60% decline of its populations in Spain (home to 95% of the world's population). Agricultural intensification is its greatest threat.

Additional information

24 cm passerine, robust, with a long, rounded tail, dark grey back, pink underparts, black mask, and white on the throat, on the external rectrices and forming an arched panel at the base of the primaries. The bill is strong and hooked, enabling it to kill large prey and tear their flesh. It locates prey from high perches where it spends much time stationary, and is able to mimic the songs of various bird species to attract and capture them. It nails prey in pantries in thorny bushes before consuming them. Sedentary.