Category: Laniidae

Research activity induces change in nest position of the Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor

Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) Science Article 11 abstract The Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor, as well as other species of family Laniidae, recognise humans as potential predators and actively defend nests. During an intensive study in western Poland we examined the influence of observer visits on breeding success and breedingbehaviour of the Great Grey Shrike. […]

Reproductive success of the Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) in Western Bulgaria

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) Science Article 1 abstract The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) is a passerine species, which is considered to have un- dergone a large decline throughout its breeding range in Europe. Its distribution has retracted towards the south and it was recently classified as ‘Vulnerable’ (Tucker et al. 1994, Lefranc 1997). In spite […]

Biometrics of the Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis in relation to age and sex.

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) Science Article 1 abstract The biometrics of Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis and differences from the closely related Great Grey Shrike L. excubitor are poorly characterised. The aim of this study was to describe sex and age variation in external biometric measurements for the nominate Southern Grey Shrike L. m. […]

Diet composition and prey choice of the Southern grey shrike Lanius meridionalis L. in South-eastern Spain: the importance of vertebrates in the diet

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) Science Article 2 abstract The Southern grey shrike consumes several beetle types, grasshoppers, and, during the breeding period, lizards. Birds and small mammals are captured incidentally. It consistently rejects prey smaller than 10 mm long, and prey are larger during the breeding period and summer. Compared with other populations of […]

Comparison of methods for diet analysis and prey preference: a case study on the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio.

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Science Article 8 abstract I studied diet composition and prey preferences of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) in an extensive agricultural landscape in the eastern part of Poland. The diet composition of the Red-backed Shrike was described based on the analysis of animal remains in pellets (n = 968 prey items), […]

Nest predators affect spatial dynamics of breeding red-backed shrikes (Lanius collurio)

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Science Article 9 abstract Predation may be a strong selective factor affecting individual behaviour and life histories. However, few studies have investigated whether predators affect breeding habitat selection of prey species. We tested whether breeding habitat selection and reproduction of a tropical migrant, the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio L.), was related […]

Analysis of stable isotopes in feathers of Red-backed Shrikes ( Lanius collurio ): no evidence for different wintering habitats of males and females

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Science Article 6 abstract We investigated the stable isotope signatures (d15N and d13C) of greater feather covers of male and female Red-backed Shrikes (Lanius collurio) of a southern German population. Male and female birds did not differ in their isotope signatures, thus revealing similar winter grounds for both sexes Hans Jakober, […]

Using microsatellites to obtain genetic structure data for Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio): a pilot study

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Science Article 1 abstract The declining Western European population of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is hypothesised to be a part of the same metapopulation as the Dutch population, at the edge of the contracting western range. Due to habitat fragmentation the Dutch population is mainly situated in the Bargerveen reserve […]

Which method is most suitable for censusingbreeding populations of red-backed (Laniuscollurio) and great grey (L. excubitor) shrikes?

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Science Article 3 abstract Up to now, studies have shown that it is very difficult to estimate accurate numbers of shrike(Lanius spp) breeding pairs. During our shrike biology research in Western Poland this problemwas evident. Actual breeding pair numbers were derived from a combination of specialcounts in the pre-breeding period, intensive […]

Eggshell patterning in the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio: relation toegg size and potential function

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Science Article 5 abstract Despite numerous studies on avian eggs, the function of eggshell patterning remains largely unknown. Using a museum collection of Red-backed Shrike clutches, we estimated the repeatability of characteristics describing the intensity and contrast of egg pigmentation, as well as egg size and shape. Digitalized photographs of eggs […]