Iberian Gray Shrike
Lanius meridionalis
Thrush-sized bird; pale gray overall with black mask. Found in open, dry desert and semidesert areas across Portugal and Spain, into France. Feeds on insects, small reptiles, and birds. Often seen using prominent perches, including power lines and short treetops that offer perfect vantages for shrikes to spot their prey. Carnivorous habits make shrikes unique among passerines. Feeds on rodents and small birds. In flight, watch for white patches in the wings. Like many other shrikes, vocally quite varied and talented, giving a wide range of buzzes, rasps, whistles, warbles, and imitations.
Taxonomy
The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The specific meridionalis is Latin for "southern". The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.<p>It is resident in southern Europe. It is slightly smaller and darker than the great grey shrike, and prefers dry open country.
- Scientific name
- Lanius meridionalis
- Authority
- Temminck, 1820
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Lanius
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : s France and Iberian Pen.
- Non-breeding range
- to nw Africa
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
This medium-sized passerine bird eats large insects, small birds and rodents. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a "larder".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Buff-throated Saltator
Saltator maximus
Fairly common in humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edges, plantations, and dense second growth. Usually seen singly or in pairs, foraging quietly in flowering or fruiting trees. Buff throat patch is bordered by black moustache stripes. Birds from western Panama north also show black chest band around buff throat. Note less contrast between head and back than larger Black-headed Saltator, and longer white eyebrow of Green-winged Saltator.
Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher
Corythornis madagascariensis
Small, almost fluorescent orange forest kingfisher. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is most common in eastern and northern rainforest, though it also occurs locally in western deciduous forest. Sits motionless for long periods before darting after prey, most often frogs. Call is a harsh “tshik,” often given in flight. Separated from Malagasy Kingfisher by orange upperparts and bill. Prefers forest, whereas Malagasy Kingfisher is found in wetlands.
Galapagos Shearwater
Puffinus subalaris
Very small black-and-white shearwater of warm tropical waters. Can be seen from shore off the coast of Oaxaca. Often in flocks, sometimes of thousands, resting on the water and in feeding flocks with Brown Boobies, Black Terns, and other shearwaters. Flight quick and low, with hurried wingbeats and only short glides. Smaller and shorter-winged than Black-vented Shearwater and rare Townsend’s Shearwater. Black-vented has messier brown colors on the side of its head, without distinct dark cap of Galapagos. Townsend’s is blacker above with white patches (saddlebags) at sides of rump.
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