Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio (Linnaeus, 1758) ED REBSH 15150
Family: Passeriformes > Laniidae

Red-backed Shrike, Neil Calbrade

Red-backed Shrike was effectively lost as a breeding species in the 1990s, following a longer period of decline. It is now a scarce visitor, most often reported during May to June and August to October.

The loss of Red-backed Shrike from Britain has been linked to changing agricultural practices and habitat loss, because of which populations of favoured large invertebrate prey have been much diminished.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Red-backed Shrike

  • Breeding
  • Winter

Identification

Red-backed Shrike identification is often straightforward.

SONGS AND CALLS

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Red-backed Shrike, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Call

Song

Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses

Our interactive online courses are a great way to develop your bird identification skills, whether you're new to the hobby or a competent birder looking to hone your abilities.

Browse training courses

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

POPULATION CHANGE

The Red-backed Shrike was a widespread breeding species in the UK but experienced substantial declines during the 19th and 20th centuries and became effectively extinct as a UK breeding bird in 1989, although since 2004 very small numbers have again bred in most years (Davies & Lock 2016). The species is monitored by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, with a mean of just four breeding pairs reported over the five-year period 2015–2019 (Eaton et al. 2021).

DISTRIBUTION

During Bird Atlas 2007–11

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

Red-backed Shrikes underwent an extensive range contraction through the late 20th century, dwindling to one pair in the 1990s.

SEASONALITY

Red-backed Shrike is a very rare breeder, with most records relating to passage migrants in May/June and in August to October.

Weekly occurence of Red-backed Shrike from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

An overview of year-round movements for the whole of Europe can be seen on the EuroBirdPortal viewer.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Foreign locations of Red-backed Shrike ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Encountered in: Winter (Nov-Feb); Spring (Mar-Apr); Summer (May-Jul); Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Red-backed Shrike, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

BIOMETRICS

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Gaelic: Feòladair
Welsh: Cigydd Cefngoch
Catalan: escorxador comú
Czech: tuhýk obecný
Danish: Rødrygget Tornskade
Dutch: Grauwe Klauwier
Estonian: punaselg-õgija
Finnish: pikkulepinkäinen
French: Pie-grièche écorcheur
German: Neuntöter
Hungarian: tövisszúró gébics
Icelandic: Þyrnisvarri
Irish: Scréachán Droimrua
Italian: Averla piccola
Latvian: (bruna cakste), setas cakste
Lithuanian: paprastoji medšarke
Norwegian: Tornskate
Polish: gasiorek
Portuguese: picanço-de-dorso-ruivo
Slovak: strakoš obycajný
Slovenian: rjavi srakoper
Spanish: Alcaudón dorsirrojo
Swedish: törnskata
Folkname: Nine-killer, Flusher

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Red-backed Shrike from BTO scientists.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

Causes of change

The reasons for the decline in Britain are unclear, although poor breeding performance is not thought to have driven the decline (Tryjanowski et al. 2006). Factors affecting the population may have including agriculatural intensification and hence a reduction in scrubby habitat and large invertebrates, and egg-collecting and other human distrubance; habitat managment and recreation may be important (along with other actions) to increase the likelihood that Red-backed Shrike can recolonise the UK (see review by Davies & Lock 2016). A study of six European populations found that warmer summer weather was correlated with breeding success and hence suggests climate change could possibly benefit the species in the future, although note that the study did not assess the effects of more extreme weather and also cautioned that other factors such as habitat and predation may be more important drivers in some populations (Søgaard Jørgensen et al. 2013).

Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com

Would you like to search for another species?