Easy form for entering observations
Text: Estonian Ornithological Society
Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Great grey shrike in ash
| Great grey shrike, Northern shrike |
Hallõgija
|
Lanius excubitor |
On the web page of the Bird of the Year, the great grey shrike, at the Estonian Ornithological Society’s site there is a nice, easily filled-in form where sightings of shrikes can be noted until the end of the year. Other people’s observations are also shown:
The size of the grey shrike is roughly comparable to a small thrush (weight 60-70 grams). It has a long tail, and seen from afar the grey shrike reminds a little of a miniature magpie; it has been called "willow magpie“. The upper parts are ash grey, the underparts white, with black wings and some white areas on the tail. A black streak goes through the eye. The underparts of young birds may be streaked, but this disappears before winter. There are no great differences between the plumages of the male and female birds.
The flight of the grey shrike is wavy. Often it can also stand still in the air by hovering like a kestrel. When hunting for prey it perches in some open position, usually the top of a bush or on a telephone line.
Grey shrikes are most often seen in Estonia from the beginning of September-October as the passing migration starts and are usually seen in cultivated landscapes, less often in clearings. The number of wintering birds is estimated at 500-600 individualst.
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