Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor Linnaeus, 1758
Lanius meridionalis Temm.: Hristovich, 1890: 198.
Order Passeriformes
Family Laniidae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Critically endangered CR C [2(a(i)+b)] + D, BDA-III; International: BeC-III, ECS-Spec 3.
General distribution. A Holarctic species, widespread in the zone of the taiga. In Euraisa to the south it reaches Central France, at places in Central Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, Central Asia and Sahalin Island; Northern America (Alaska and Canada).
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. A passage migrant, winter visitor and probably breeding species. In spite of the lack of proof of certain breeding in the counrty, there have been many observations, since the end of the 19th century, of birds during the breeding period or even on some nests of theirs found [1]. But some of the observations are, probably, of wrongly determined black shrikes [2]. In the past, there existed data of probable or certain breeding for the region of Sofia, the bases of the Rhodopes and along the Black Sea coast [1]. At present, there are habitats with very probable or certain breeding mainly in the northern and central regions of the country [1]. During the autumn-winter period it is omnipresent (but not numerous), mainly in flat and low mountainous regions, at places also up to an altitude of 1 400 m [2, 3]. In the breeding period, its numbers are probably between 0 and 10 pairs; and between 3 000 and 5 000 individuals in the autumn-winter period [2].
Habitats. Insufficiently known during the breeding period. In the autumn-winter period – various open localities (pastures, arable areas), shrub associations, surroundings of forest massifs and cultures.
Biology. Almost unstudied during the breeding period in Bulgaria [1]. The autumn-winter territories vary between 10 and 50 ha. The height of the fixed food reserves significantly correlates with the height of the plants on which they are located. In the autumn-winter period vertebrate animals (in numbers of individuals) in the food range are about 10% [4, 5].
Similar species. The Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis).
Negative factors. Agricultural and forestry activities related to the use of chemicals.
Conservation measures taken. Protected according to the Biological Diversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. Informing the Regional Inspectorates of the Environment and the Waters when locating a breeding place; carrying out studies on the biology and ecology of the species and on the tendencies in the numbers of the population in the autumn-winter period.
References. 1. Nankinov, Nikolov, 2003; 2. Nikolov, 2006; 3. G. Stoyanov, unpubl. data; 4. Nikolov et al., 2004; 5. B. Nikolov, unpubl. data; 6. Isenmann, Lefranc, 1994; 7. Lefranc, Worfolk, 1997; 8. Harris, Franklin, 2000.
Author: Boris Nikolov
