Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

OTHER NAMES: Woodchat 

Latin Etymology: Lanius ("to tear to pieces") senator ("senator")

                                              Woodchat Shrike (subspecies L. s. senator) near Torrelaguna, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Lanius senator senator

Weight: 25-35g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: 26cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This handsome little bird is found throughout the Mediterranean and occassionally found as a vagrant most years in the UK.  It is fairly distinctive from the other European Shrikes - with bold chestnut markings on the head and no distinctive back colour unlike the other species.  Luis spotted this bird perched on a wire as we were driving along the road towards Patones.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius
Subspecies: L .s senator, L. s. badius, L. s. niloticus

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Alcaudón común ("Common Shrike")

Widespread in low densities.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Single individual seen on a wire near Torrelaguna.
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Individuals seen at various points including El Pardo and the roads approaching Monfrague. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto