THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE 



LANIUS COLLURIO 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " Butcher- 

 bird " (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A local summer visitor 

 to England and Wales, from Derbyshire southwards ; of 

 only accidental occurrence in Scotland and Ireland, 

 although it has been recorded as having bred in the 

 former country. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : I have no records of this bird from the more 

 central districts, and its distribution normally does not 

 commence until the four- or five-mile radius is reached. 

 It is a fairly numerous summer visitor to suitable spots, 

 breeding in the south from Dulwich, Barnes, Putney, 

 Wimbledon, and Richmond outwards ; in the west from 

 Osterley, Hanwell, Sudbury, Pinner, Perivale, Wembley, 

 Harrow, Stanmore, and Elstree ; in the north from 

 Hendon, Barnet, Enfield, Waltham, and Epping ; in the 

 east from Ilford and Dagenham ; and in the south from 

 Dartford, the Grays, Bromley, Croydon, Banstead, Merton, 

 Ewell, and Epsom. As might naturally be expected, the 

 bird becomes commoner in the! remoter and more rural 

 suburbs, although I have remarked its persistent attach- 

 ment to certain haunts after they have been considerably 

 encroached upon by the builder. It has a habit of re- 

 turning year by year to one particular spot to nest, and 

 may be seen, like the Tree Pipit, summer after summer in 

 certain trees and bushes. 



There are many ideal haunts for the Red-backed 

 Shrike in suburban London high hedges and well- 

 timbered fields, open country with plenty of cover, in 

 which the bird delights. It is one of the latest of our 

 summer migrants, reaching England early in May, and 



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