The Red-backed Shrike 



The nest is a large and loose structure of twigs, roots, and 

 moss ; it is lined with hair and w^ool, and placed about 

 eight or ten feet from the ground in a thick hawthorn hedge. 

 The eggs are usually of a pale green colour, with a zone or 

 band of olive brown mottlings round the larger end. In 

 some districts a variety is found in which the ground colour 

 is pinkish and the markings reddish brown. The Shrike 

 has no song, but makes a great variety of harsh noises and 

 chucklings as it sits on its post of vantage, bending down 

 and flirting his tail at the same time. The call-note is a 

 harsh " chack." Like the Swift, Cuckoo, and several other 

 species, he does not stay with us long, but having reared his 

 brood, the whole family wander south, and soon leave our 

 shores. 



The adult male has the crown, nape, and upper tail 

 coverts grey ; frontal band, lores, and ear coverts black ; 

 back chestnut ; tail feathers black, all except the central 

 pair with white bases ; under parts rose buff. 



The female has the upper parts brown, mantle rufous, 

 with small narrow black crescentic bars on the feathers ; 

 under parts greyish white barred like the mantle. The 

 young bird resembles the female, but is more barred. 

 Length 7 in. ; wing 3 '7 in. 



THE WOODCHAT 



Lanius pomeranus, Sparrman 



Single examples of this species have from time to time 

 visited the southern and eastern counties of England during 



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