Birds
Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor · Sfrâncioc mare
The largest shrike in Romania, a small predator of open country with tall trees.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Resident
- Habitat
- Meadow
- Activity
- Morning · Daytime
- Diet
- Carnivorous: small vertebrates such as rodents, lizards, frogs and small birds, and large insects.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Moderate
Photography Guide
Practical starting points based on the species’ behaviour and habitat, not fixed rules.
- Where and how to look
- Open country with isolated trees, especially in winter.
- Best time / activity
- Morning · Daytime
- Photography difficulty
- Moderate
- Ethics
- Keep away from nests, do not use playback in the breeding season, and let the bird decide how close it comes.
Identification
Large grey-and-white shrike with a black mask, black wings with a white patch and a long tail.
Habitat
Open grassland or farmland mosaics with tall trees, sometimes orchards; prefers isolated tall trees or tree lines for nesting.
Approximate range in Romania
Diet
Carnivorous: small vertebrates such as rodents, lizards, frogs and small birds, and large insects.
Behaviour
Hunts from tall, exposed perches.
Seasonality in Romania
Breeds in Romania and is resident; some birds probably move to milder areas. Numbers rise in winter with birds arriving from the north.
- JanPresent
- FebPresent
- MarPresent
- AprPresent
- MayPresent
- JunPresent
- JulPresent
- AugPresent
- SepPresent
- OctPresent
- NovPresent
- DecPresent
Source-verified months inform the seasonal filters. Local timing can vary. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
Breeding
Breeding can begin early, in March, with eggs from April; usually 4–10 eggs.