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Location: Saratov oblast Russia | Location: Saratov oblast Russia | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| − | The red-backed shrike was a fairly common summer visitor to the UK 50 years ago but the last confirmed breeding pair was in 1992 (in Scotland?). It can still be seen on passage. It still breeds - though often at low density - in parts of southern and eastern Europe as well as [[Germany]], [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]]. According to | + | The red-backed shrike was a fairly common summer visitor to the UK 50 years ago but the last confirmed breeding pair was in 1992 (in Scotland?). It can still be seen on passage. It still breeds - though often at low density - in parts of southern and eastern Europe as well as [[Germany]], [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]]. According to ''The Birds of the Western Palearctic - Concise Edition'' there were an estimated 20,00 - 210,000 pairs in Ukraine in 1986, and the population is fairly stable. Its range extends east to western Siberia, and also to north-west Iran. The birds winter in tropical and southern Africa.<br />I watched a pair feeding young in a sloping meadow in [[Switzerland]]. The adult male frequently perched on an overhead power line. The juveniles stayed close to hawthorn bushes or on fences. I was surprised that the local house sparrows seemed to take no notice of them, freely perching close to the shrikes. There were three young. <br /> |
The shrike was known as the 'butcher bird' because of its habit of impaling prey on spikes (either natural or man-made). This habit is common to many shrike species. | The shrike was known as the 'butcher bird' because of its habit of impaling prey on spikes (either natural or man-made). This habit is common to many shrike species. | ||
Revision as of 17:39, 14 May 2007
- Lanius collurio
Description
This shows the male and female.
Identification
Location: Saratov oblast Russia
Notes
The red-backed shrike was a fairly common summer visitor to the UK 50 years ago but the last confirmed breeding pair was in 1992 (in Scotland?). It can still be seen on passage. It still breeds - though often at low density - in parts of southern and eastern Europe as well as Germany, Norway and Sweden. According to The Birds of the Western Palearctic - Concise Edition there were an estimated 20,00 - 210,000 pairs in Ukraine in 1986, and the population is fairly stable. Its range extends east to western Siberia, and also to north-west Iran. The birds winter in tropical and southern Africa.
I watched a pair feeding young in a sloping meadow in Switzerland. The adult male frequently perched on an overhead power line. The juveniles stayed close to hawthorn bushes or on fences. I was surprised that the local house sparrows seemed to take no notice of them, freely perching close to the shrikes. There were three young.
The shrike was known as the 'butcher bird' because of its habit of impaling prey on spikes (either natural or man-made). This habit is common to many shrike species.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Lanius collurio (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
