Red-backed Shrike ( Lanius collurio )
Red-backed Shrike - Red-backed Shrike information - Red-backed Shrike facts
The Red backed shrike is spread almost al around Europe except for the Scandinavia, Great Britain and southern parts of Spain. Its habitat is an open country. These insectivorous birds migrate each autumn down to southern parts of Africa, where they find enough of food.
Lanius collurio is 18cm in size (7 inches). Its crown is light grey. There is a black stripe going from the bill through the eyes. The throat is whitish, under-parts are pinkish. The back and the wings are light brown. The hens have a brownish area at the front of the crown and grey area behind. Their wings are dark brown.
As already mentioned shrikes are omnivorous, so their diet consists mainly from insects. They also eat small invertebrates. Their nest is cup shaped, located in the fork of a tree or a bush. The hens have from five to nine eggs. These eggs may have different coloration. Sometimes their nest may be parasitized by the common cuckoo. Cuckoos lay their eggs alongside the shrikes’ eggs. However shrikes learn to recognize cuckoo eggs and discard them from their nest.
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