Photo: Pierre Dalous / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurio
Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 28.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Laniidae Shrikes
- Genus Lanius
- Species collurio
Where it lives
Europe to western Siberia, western Kazakhstan, Turkey and northwestern Iran
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-backed Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-backed Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is a member of the Laniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Europe to w Siberia, w Kazakhstan, Turkey and nw Iran.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.4 g, with a wing length of about 9.4 cm and a tail of around 7.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-backed Shrike?
The Red-backed Shrike is a small bird that weighs around 28.4 g.
Where does the Red-backed Shrike live?
The Red-backed Shrike is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Europe to w Siberia, w Kazakhstan, Turkey and nw Iran, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-backed Shrike belong to?
The Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-backed Shrike eat?
The Red-backed Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-backed Shrike migrate?
The Red-backed Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red-backed Shrike endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Red-backed Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Red-backed Shrike — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-backed Shrike's range?
The Red-backed Shrike has a mapped global range of about 10.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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