The Woodchat Shrike, Lanius senator, is a smallish bird which breeds in southern Europe, the Middle East and northwest Africa and spends the winter in tropical Africa. I spotted this one, a female, on open ground in the urban section of the rio Chillar in Nerja, close to the Puente Viejo bridge.
![female woodchat shrike, Nerja](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.nerjarob.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Woodchat-Shrike-female-1.webp?media=1725524580)
Growing to around 19 centimetres in length, the male has black and white upper parts, a chestnut crown and pure white underparts. Females and juveniles have brown and white upperparts are buff below.
![woodchat shrike, Nerja](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.nerjarob.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Woodchat-Shrike-female-2.webp?media=1725524580)
The main diet of the Woodchat Shrike consists of insects, with beetles being a particular favourite. However, they will also occasionally eat invertebrates…
![woodchat shrike in Nerja](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.nerjarob.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Woodchat-Shrike-female-3.webp?media=1725524580)
![woodchat shrike by the river in Nerja](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.nerjarob.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Woodchat-Shrike-female-4.webp?media=1725524580)