RED-BACKED SHRIKE 



Lanius collurio 



Red-backed Shrike, or Butcher-bird, as it is often 

 called, is a common and well-known summer visitor to 

 many of the southern counties of England. It is however 

 somewhat locally distributed, even in districts where it is 

 most plentiful. Northwards it becomes much rarer, and is 

 known in Scotland only as an accidental visitor, chiefly 

 during migration, although it is stated that there are 

 records of its having nested in one or two of the eastern counties. In Ireland 

 its occurrence is extremely rare. 



The Red-backed Shrike is one of the last of the summer migrants to 

 arrive on our shores. Its favourite haunts are in the open country, where 

 the fields are divided by tall hedges, which afford an excellent place of 

 concealment, and at the same time a good look-out on the surrounding 

 country. Immediately on their arrival in this country these birds select a 

 particular haunt, from which they seldom stray, and may be seen sitting 

 for hours on some bare perch, sallying forth every now and then to capture 

 some passing insect. In their habits the Shrikes strongly resemble the 

 Fly-catchers, and generally choose the topmost twig of some bush over- 

 grown with brambles, or some lofty spray on a tall hedge, where they will 

 sit turning their heads from side to side, and jerking their tails just as the 

 Fly-catchers do. 



The food of the Red-backed Shrike is somewhat varied. In addition 

 to small birds and mice, which it captures by pouncing down on them 

 unawares, it feeds on bees, wasps, beetles, and many other kinds of insects. 

 I have also seen small lizards carried off from the heath; these were killed 

 on the ground and carried off in the bird's claws, and not in its bill. Among 

 the tall hedges frequented by this rapacious little bird, it is no uncommon 



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