Wildlifeof China
Lesser Grey Shrike
Crows, Drongos, Orioles & Shrikes
Photo: Daniel Bastaja, http://www.birdingfaqs.com/ · CC BY 3.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Lanius minor
China Red List: Least Concern (LC)
Basic stats
Diet
Large insects, especially beetles, butterflies, moths and grasshoppers
Habitat
Dry open lowlands, often on telephone wires
Range
Breeds in South and Central Europe and western Asia; winters in southern Africa
Clutch size
5–7 eggs, usually bluish-green blotched greenish-brown
Size
About 20cm
The lesser grey shrike is a medium-sized passerine about 20cm long that prefers dry open lowlands and is often seen on telephone wires. It is slightly smaller than the great grey shrike and has a black forehead. It breeds in South and Central Europe and western Asia and migrates to winter quarters in southern Africa in early autumn, returning in spring (Wikipedia, general species account).
It eats large insects, especially beetles, butterflies, moths and grasshoppers, and frequently hovers when hunting on the breeding grounds. The clutch is five to seven eggs. The source does not describe its status in China (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Lesser Grey Shrike eat?
- Large insects, especially beetles, butterflies, moths and grasshoppers
- What habitat does the Lesser Grey Shrike live in?
- Dry open lowlands, often on telephone wires
- Where is the Lesser Grey Shrike found?
- Breeds in South and Central Europe and western Asia; winters in southern Africa
- How many eggs does the Lesser Grey Shrike lay?
- 5–7 eggs, usually bluish-green blotched greenish-brown
- How big is the Lesser Grey Shrike?
- About 20cm