Red-backed Shrike

A striking bird of open bushy country and heathlands. It is a summer migrant that arrives from Africa in May. It is often called the 'Butcher Bird' because of its predatory habits. It has a hooked bill and a black 'bandit mask' across its eyes. It has become rarer in Western Europe due to the loss of large insects.

Shrikes hunt from prominent perches. They dive to catch large beetles, grasshoppers, and small lizards. They are famous for their unusual way of storing food. They impale excess prey on thorns or barbed wire to save it for later. Their song is a quiet medley of imitations of other birds.