The Lesser Shrike is a medium-sized bird with a distinctive appearance. It has reddish-gray plumage on its back and a characteristic black mask over its eyes. Its underparts are whitish. It feeds mainly on insects, but it can also catch small vertebrates. Like all shrikes, it is known for impaling its prey on thorns or barbed wire. It migrates to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter. It prefers open habitats with shrubs and small trees, where it nests between May and July.