Shrikes · Perching birds
Red-backed Shrike
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Lanius collurio
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Voice
Song
Alarm
Call
How to recognize it
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Body length 16–18 cm
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Male with a reddish back, grey head and black stripe through the eye; female and young brown, with wavy markings
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Tail with a black-and-white pattern
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Often perches on exposed branches; impales prey on thorns or barbed wire
About the species
In males, reddish upperparts meet a gray head, crossed by a black stripe through the eye. The underside has a faint pink wash, while the tail is patterned in black and white. Females and juveniles are browner, with wavy markings above and buff, similarly patterned underparts.
It hunts from an exposed branch or another prominent perch. After a catch, it may pin the remains on a thorn or barbed wire and keep them for later. Its quiet, indistinct song is heard less often than its sharp, buzzing “chrr-ek” calls.
Across Europe and western Asia, it nests in trees or shrubs, usually with the nest tucked into the canopy. Large insects are part of its diet, along with small vertebrate prey such as frogs, rodents and lizards. It winters in tropical Africa, and its migration takes place at night.
Where to find
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During the breeding season, look for a Red-backed Shrike on a prominent tree branch or another conspicuous perch, scanning for prey.
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On thorny plants or barbed wire, look for prey impaled and stored as a larder.
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During the breeding season, keep back from a tree or shrub with a well-hidden nest if you notice active nest defense.
