The Red-backed Shrikes (Lanius collurio) is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. This is a charming little bird which has won the hearts and minds of bird lovers all over Europe, Asia and Africa. This species is a favourite among nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers alike for its eye-catching appearance and clever hunting methods. You won’t see one in the Australian outback, but learning about its migration will give you a better understanding of bird behaviour and habitat requirements, wherever you may be.
The small, but powerful bird is known for impaling prey on thorns and barbed wire. It’s a brutal but effective way of saving food. The bird also exhibits fascinating courtship behaviours, strong territorial instincts and a flair for dramatic displays. The Red-backed Shrike can be an interesting species to learn about, whether you are a birding beginner or a seasoned expert.
Description
This 16-18 cm long migratory passerine eats large insects, small birds, voles and lizards. Like other shrikes, it hunts from prominent perches and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a “larder”.
The general colour of the male’s upper parts is reddish. It has a grey head and a typical shrike black stripe through the eye. Underparts are tinged pink, and the tail has a black and white pattern similar to that of a wheatear. In the female and young birds, the upperparts are brown and vermiculated. Underparts are buff and also vermiculated.
Behaviour
Red-backed Shrikes can be easily spotted because they prefer to perch on open, elevated areas. Perching places include fence posts, telephone lines, and bushtops. They can keep an eye out for prey and monitor their territory from here.
They will flick their tails when disturbed or alarmed and give a loud warning. When they feel danger approaching, they will quickly run into cover. During breeding season, they are fiercely territorial. Males will defend their territory by shouting and chasing off intruders.
The courtship displays of shrikes are among the most impressive. The male proudly displays his colourful plumage while strutting before the female. He puffs up his chest, raises his tail and struts. If you are lucky enough to see it, you will never forget it. They become more visible after the breeding season as the young birds loudly beg their parents for food.
Breeding
For Red-backed Shrikes, the breeding season begins in May. It lasts through June and into July. Nests are built in dense shrubbery, and they often choose thorny plants such as hawthorn to provide extra protection from predators. Nests are often untidy and appear to be loosely built, but they work well.
The female incubates her eggs for two weeks. During this period, the male will bring her food and remain on alert for any threats. The female will brood the chicks for the first seven days after they hatch, while the male hunts and feeds the family. According to National Geographic, this species is well documented.
The young leave the nest after about two weeks but are still dependent on their parents for another 14 days. Red-backed Shrikes can raise two broods during a single breeding period, particularly when the conditions are favourable. It helps to increase their population and prepares them for the long journey that lies ahead. According to IUCN Red List, this species is well documented.
Habitat
The Red-backed Shrike is a bird of open country, and thrives in “semiopen” or mosaic landscapes. The Red-backed Shrikes prefer areas with a mixture of open land for hunting and dense vegetation to nest and provide cover. It is vital for the survival of these birds and their ability to reproduce.
The nests of these birds are best protected by hedgerows or trees with thorns. The habitats of open grassy areas, meadows and forest edges, as well as pastures with scattered shrubs, are all excellent.
The shrike relies on these areas for cover, but they also provide a large population of insects and other small animals that are essential to its diet. It is important to have bare soil patches or short vegetation, which makes it easier to spot and catch prey. The Red-backed Shrike can perch high on these habitat features and scan for its next food.
Distribution / Range
This bird breeds in most of Europe and western Asia and winters in tropical Africa. Its range is contracting, and it is now probably extinct in Great Britain as a breeding bird, although it is frequent on migration.
It is named as a protected bird in Britain under a Biodiversity Action Plan; its decline is due to the overuse of pesticides and scrub clearance due to human overpopulation.
It breeds in open cultivated country with hawthorn and dog rose.
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