Great Grey Shrike

How to recognise it

• Pale ash-grey upperparts and a black mask from the bill to the ear coverts
• Black-and-white wings with white scapulars and a long black-and-white tail
• Mostly white underparts, greyer and faintly barred grey-brown in the female
• Often perches at the very top of a tree or post and hovers when hunting

Call and song

The male's song is made up of short, pleasant twittering phrases mixed with flowing whistles. When disturbed it gives a harsh, jay-like alarm call, often repeated twice. On spotting a bird of prey it warns with a sharp scream.

Where and when

The Great Grey Shrike is a partial migrant that breeds in Sweden, from northern Värmland, central Dalarna, western Hälsingland and Medelpad northwards. As winter approaches, most of the population moves south within the country. The Swedish population is estimated at 12 000 adult birds. It is reported most from October to February and rarely in August. Its share of all bird reports is highest in Västmanland, Värmland and Dalarna.

Food and behaviour

It feeds mostly on insects and small rodents, and often stores prey by impaling it on thorns or twigs. It usually flies low and lands on its perch with an upward swoop. It may chase off and pursue birds of prey, ravens and crows.