The Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) is a passerine bird about the size of a starling, with a long tail, which in terms of its feeding habits is closer to birds of prey. The shrike typically surveys its surroundings from elevated places — such as solitary trees, the tops of shrubs, or poles—and, upon spotting prey, quickly attacks it.
The species feeds on insects and various small vertebrates. A particularly characteristic feature of the Great Grey Shrike’s behavior is impaling larger prey on sharp branches, thorns, or barbed wire. This allows the bird not only to handle its prey more easily but also to store food reserves. This strategy compensates for the fact that shrikes do not have the strong talons characteristic of birds of prey.
The Great Grey Shrike is associated with semi-open landscapes. During the breeding season, it is most often found in ombrotrophic bogs or fens (peat-forming wetlands), as well as in exploited peatlands. In winter, it occurs in open landscapes with scattered trees, shrubs, and power lines. Such habitats provide sufficient food and opportunities for ambush hunting, as during winter this bird feeds mainly on small rodents and birds.
The species is wide spread in Eurasia, North America, and North Africa. In Lithuania, the Great Grey Shrike can be found throughout the country in suitable habitats, but overall it is considered rare. In late autumn, winter, and early spring, the number of Great Grey Shrikes increases as birds from northern populations migrate through the country, some of which remain here for the winter.
