Woodchat Shrike

Lanius senator

Introduction

Recorded in all months of the year but with a clear spring peak, Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to Britain & Ireland.

This migrant shrike has a predominantly European breeding distribution – though extending through Turkey and on into Iran – and winters in a belt across central Africa.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

35g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

4.4k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Isle of May, 1911

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Woodchat Shrike

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

Open Close

This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Woodchat Shrike movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Woodchat Shrike, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Woodchat Shrike

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Scientific name: Lanius senator
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: OO
BTO 5-letter code: WOOSH
Euring code number: 15230

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: capsigrany comú
Czech: tuhýk rudohlavý
Danish: Rødhovedet Tornskade
Dutch: Roodkopklauwier
Estonian: punapea-õgija
Finnish: punapäälepinkäinen
French: Pie-grièche à tête rousse

German: Rotkopfwürger
Hungarian: vörösfeju gébics
Icelandic: Trjásvarri
Irish: Scréachán Coille
Italian: Averla capirossa
Latvian: sarkangalvas cakste
Lithuanian: rudagalve medšarke
Norwegian: Rødhodevarsler

Polish: dzierzba rudoglowa
Portuguese: picanço-barreteiro
Slovak: strakoš cervenohlavý
Slovenian: rjavoglavi srakoper
Spanish: Alcaudón común
Swedish: rödhuvad törnskata
Welsh: Cigydd Pengoch

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species