Bird Guide

Great Grey Shrike vs Loggerhead Shrike

Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

Great Grey Shrike

Lanius excubitor

Medium63 gShrubland

An adult great grey shrike is a medium-sized passerine about as large as a big thrush, measuring from 22 to 26 cm (8.7 to 10.2 in) long. It typically weighs around 60 to 70 g (2.1 to 2.5 oz), although some subspecies are noticeably smaller or larger, and even in the nominate subspecies adult weights between 48 and 81 g (1.7 and 2.9 oz) are recorded. The wings are around 11.4 cm (4.5 in) and the tail around 10.9 cm (4.3 in) long in the nominate subspecies, its bill measures about 23 mm (0.91 in) from tip to skull, and the tarsometatarsus part of its "legs" (actually feet) is around 27.4 mm (1. Voice: The male's song consists of short pleasant warbling strophes, interspersed with fluid whistles. The individual phrases may go like tu-tu-krr-pree-pree or trr-turit trr-turit.... To announce that it has become aware of someone straying into its territory – be it a female or male of its species or a large mammal – it gives long shrill raspy whistles like trrii(u) or (t')kwiiet.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Great Grey Shrike
Recorded by Christian Kahle · Schneverdingen, Germany · CC0
Photo: uid101125 · CC BY 4.0
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Small52 gShrubland

The loggerhead shrike is a medium-sized passerine. "Loggerhead" refers to the relatively large size of the head as compared to the rest of the body. The wing and tail length are about 3.82 in (9.70 cm) and 3.87 in (9.83 cm) long, respectively. It weighs on average 1.8 oz (50 g), with a range of 1.6–2.1 oz (45–60 g) for a healthy adult shrike. Measurement ranges Length: 7.9–9.1 in (20–23 cm) Weight: 1.2–1.8 oz (34–51 g) Wingspan: 11.0–12.6 in (27.9–32.0 cm) The adult plumage of the loggerhead shrike is grey above with a white to pale grey breast and black tarsi and feet. Voice: Their vocal range is broad and varied, and has been described as harsh and jarring. The shrike's notes include squeaky whistles, shrill trills, and guttural warbles. The trills sung by males during breeding season vary in rhythm and pitch. When alarmed, a shrike will produce a "schgra-a-a" shriek while spreading out its tail feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Loggerhead Shrike
Recorded by Diana Doyle · Duet, song · 3Canyons Ranch, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jonathan Eisen · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Great Grey Shrike and Loggerhead Shrike.