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RED BACKED SHRIKE-MALE
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
RED BACKED SHRIKE-MALE (LANIUS COLLURIO)
Measuring 17 cm in length, the red-backed shrike is slightly larger than a house sparrow. Males are easily recognisable by their striking appearance. They have a bluish-grey head, black eye mask, chestnut coloured back, black tail framed with white, salmon pink underparts and a hooked black bill. Females and juveniles do not have the black eye mask of the male and are dull brown; juveniles also have bars on their back. The voice includes a harsh 'chack chack' alarm call, and males produce a sustained warble in which the songs of other bird species are copied.
The red-backed shrike breeds throughout most of Europe except for most of the northern areas, central and southern Iberia and many Mediterranean islands. It migrates via south-east Europe to tropical and southern Africa and north-west India for the winter.
Red-backed shrikes once bred in a wide range of habitats, including commons, waste land, scrubby habitat and heathland.
When hunting, shrikes sit in prominent positions such as on fence posts in order to spot potential prey. They take a range of prey and use a variety of hunting methods. They swiftly drop onto beetles and other invertebrates dwelling on the ground, but can also chase after flying insects and catch them on the wing. Small birds, mammals, lizards and frogs are also taken, and are killed with a sharp peck to the back of the head. Prey items are often impaled on thorns in order to build up a food supply for periods of bad weather. These "larders" have earned the species the name "butcher bird", and according to superstition the red-backed shrike only feeds when it has killed nine creatures. The name "nine killer" comes from the German "neunmoder".
The cup-like nest is built from plant stems, roots and grass, is lined with moss and hair and is located low down in dense thorny bushes. Eggs are laid between the end of May and late July; only one clutch consisting of 3-6 eggs is produced each year.
Agricultural intensification including pesticide use may have contributed to the decline of this species by reducing prey availability. |
Luis52 has marked this note useful
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- Luis52
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(12761) - [2009-08-09 15:56]
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Hola Marius.
Excellent and fine photo. Very clear, clean and sharp. The pose and BG makes it even better.
TFS
Luis52.
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- joska
(5434)
- [2009-08-10 1:15]
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Este aproape o poza perfecta de prezentarea speciei!
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- pirate
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 472 W: 99 N: 624]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(3213) - [2009-08-10 1:54]
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Hi Marius
very nice compo, although centering the subject is rarely the best option, here it is.
lovely catchlight an nice pose
tfs
tom
Nice shot. The colours, shallow dof, and the posture of the bird, all look wonderful. Good composition too. Thanks for sharing.
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- zetu
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 645 W: 15 N: 1580]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(6173) - [2009-08-10 7:04]
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Buna
Frumoasa poza, as putea spune chiar artistica
numai bine
Razvan
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- PeterZ
(17564)
- [2009-08-10 11:45]
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Hello Marius,
Very sharp detailed photo of this Red-backed Shrike in a very pleasant pose with eye-contact. Great sharpness, beautiful natural colours. The BG is a little bit noisy. An excellent POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter
Hi again,
This is lovely shot of the mal red backed shrike. The natural composition, the colours, the eye contact and the light are really perfect. Congratulations! For sure, one of my favourites. Cheers,
Catherine
great shot of this shrike, well done, nice oof area, and good colors
