Species of Concern
Iberian Grey Shrike
Lanius meridionalis
Also known as: Southern Grey Shrike, Iberian Gray Shrike, Southern Gray Shrike
About This Species
Scan open scrubland, farmland edges and rocky steppe for a pale, long-tailed shrike perched prominently on a bush, wire or post, from which it watches for insects, lizards and small rodents. It sometimes impales prey on thorns or barbed wire as a food store, a distinctive sign of its presence. Sightings are best in open, sparsely vegetated country during the breeding season in spring, when birds are most visible on exposed perches.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This species is classified as Vulnerable, so keep a wide distance, use optics rather than approaching perches, and never linger near a suspected nest site.
- It is a protected species under wildlife legislation across its range in the Iberian Peninsula, though the strength and enforcement of protections vary between Spain and Portugal, so treat any perch or nest site as off-limits to close approach.
- Leave the area promptly if the bird shows alarm behaviour such as repeated calling or flying off a perch.
VUAvesPasseriformesLaniidae
Seasonal Activity
203,371 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
Photo
(c) Ximo Galarza, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.