IBERIAN GREY SHRIKE

Lanius meridionalis

English: Iberian Grey Shrike.
German: Mittelmeer-Raubwürger.
French: Pie-grièche méridionale.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Passeriformes.
Family: Laniidae.

Longitud/Length

24-25 cm

Envergadura/Wingspan

28-34 cm

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

The Iberian Grey Shrike can be confused with the Lesser Grey Shrike, as both have a very similar appearance. The Lesser Grey Shrike has a larger white wing patch, lacks a white eyebrow, and has a more extensive black patch on the forehead.

Sexo/Sexing

Adult males tend to have an intensely black bridle. The bill is entirely black during the breeding season. On the other hand, females tend to have a bridle that is not entirely black but mixed with gray or a duller black. During the breeding season, the base of the lower mandible of the bill is lighter. Care should be taken with these characteristics as they are only valid for extreme specimens. It is much better if we can observe the pair together. Juveniles cannot be sexed using plumage patterns.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize 3 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: presents new plumage and its body feathers are of a light gray color.

1st-year / 2nd-year specimen: they show a molt limit between the large black greater coverts that have molted and the unchanged brown primary coverts. The changed wing feathers are darker. If the greater coverts have not molted, they may show a white tip.

Adult specimen: they have all wing feathers of the same generation, uniformly black. The greater coverts have a white tip.

Muda/Moult

The Iberian Grey Shrike undergoes a complete postnuptial molt, which typically finishes in the month of October. On the other hand, the post-juvenile molt is a partial process that includes body feathers, lesser and median coverts, and a variable number of greater coverts. Some specimens may also change tertials, some rectrices, and some outermost primaries. In general, this process is completed by November. Both age groups undergo a prenuptial molt that mainly involves some body feathers, occasionally some inner greater coverts, tertials, and central tail feathers.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 9 per wing.
Rectrices: 12.

Observaciones/Remarks

Fuente: http://blascozumeta.com/

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

Adult specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center: 32mm
Tarsus:

Adult specimen

1.- Right wing primaries. 2.- Details of the inner flag of P10, P9, P8, P7, P6, and P5. 3.- Details of the inner vane of P5, P4, and P3. 4.- Details of the tip of P1, P2, and P3. 5.- Right wing primaries. 6.- Details of the primary shaft. 7.- Details of the outer vane of primaries. 8.- Details of the tip of primaries. 9.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 10.- Details of the inner vane of S1, S2, S3, and S4. 11.- Details of the inner vane of S6, S7, S8, and S9. 12.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 13.- Details of the tertials. 14.- Details of the tip of secondaries and tertials. 15.- Details of the secondary shaft. 16.- Details of the tip of inner secondaries. 17.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 18.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 19.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts. 20.- Details of the primary coverts. 21.- Details of the greater coverts. 22.- Details of the tip of greater coverts. 23.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary and greater coverts (G, M, and P). Alulae. 24.- Details of the lesser coverts. 25.- Primary coverts. 26.- Greater coverts. 27.- Alulae. 28.- Rectrices. 29.- Details of the rectrices. 30.- Rectrices. 31.- Details of the rectrices shaft. 32.- Details of the tip of central rectrices. 33.- Details of the tip of outer rectrices. 34.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 35.– Details of the uppertail coverts. 36.- Uppertail coverts. 37.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 38.- Details of the undertail coverts. 39.- Undertail coverts. 40.- Primary underwing coverts. 41.- Greater secondary underwing coverts. 42.- Axillary feathers on the right side. 43.- Assembly of the right scapula. 44.- Scapular feathers. 45.- Top: Feathers of the ocular and auricular regions. Bottom: Feathers of the bridle. 46.- Assembly and feathers of the back. 47.- Assembly and feathers of the breast. 48.- Assembly of the right flank. 49.- Feathers of the legs. 50.- Assembly and feathers of the crown.

IBERIAN GREY SHRIKE

Medidas/Measures

Adult specimen

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