The Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) is a member of the shrike family Laniidae.
Distribution / Range
It breeds in southeastern Europe and into Asia.
It is a scarce vagrant to western Europe, including Great Britain, usually as a spring overshoot.
This species prefers dry open lowlands, and is prominent on telephone wires.
Description
It is similar in appearance to the Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor and the Southern Grey Shrike L. meridionalis.
It is slightly smaller than the Great Grey Shrike, and has a black forehead and relatively longer wings.
Diet / Feeding
This medium-sized migratory passerine eats large insects, small birds, rodents and lizards.
Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a “larder”.
