Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Aves · Passeriformes · Laniidae

About

The red-backed shrike is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family, Laniidae. Its breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia. It is migratory and winters in the eastern areas of tropical Africa and southern Africa.

Fun Fact

Red-backed shrikes impale their prey — insects, lizards, and small birds — on thorns and barbed wire to create a 'larder,' tearing off pieces to eat later, earning all shrikes the nickname 'butcher birds.'

Quick Facts

Habitat

Open scrubland and hedgerows

Diet

Insectivore

Lifespan

3-5 years

Threats

Invasive Species
Urban Expansion

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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