Red-backed Shrike is a carnivorous oscine bird
of the family Laniidae, having a screeching call. They breed in most of
Europe and western Asia and winter in tropical Africa. Its range is
contracting and it last bred in England in 1994 but was confined to
heath land in E. Anglia, although it is frequent on migration. It breeds
in open cultivated country with hawthorn and dog rose. Its name is
probably from the Middle English word 'shrik' and from the Old English
word 'scric' which is imitative of its load shrieking cry. Some
historical names for Red-backed Shrike include; Butcher Bird, Nine
Killer, Granfer, Cheeter and Horse-match.
There have been around twelve Red-backed Shrike
reported from S. Gloucestershire;
2003: (1)
On August 30th a 1st winter was found about one
kilometre south of Severn Beach.
Red-backed Shrike at Severn Beach. August 2003.
© left Paul Bowerman and right Chris Trott.
1988: (1)
On June 16th a male seen briefly in a garden at Frampton
Cotterell.
1944: (2)
In the spring and summer at Patchway, a breeding pair were
watched and presumably summered.
1943: (c.4)
On June 11th two were observed near Stoke Gifford, a
breeding pair that presumably summered; Two were present on
at least July 4th at Patchway. A breeding pair that
presumably summered. As the use of feathers as nesting
material by this species is considered to be most
exceptional, the nest of one of these pairs was of
particular interest in that feathers were loosely woven in
all round the rim, giving it an unusually large and untidy
appearance. A detailed examination of the nest after the
young had flown showed that not only were feathers present
in considerable numbers throughout but that they formed the
greater part of the material used. A ready supply in poultry
runs on a nearby building estate was, no doubt, the reason
for the birds using feathers so extensively (cf. British
Birds, Volume: XXXVII, pp. 114 and 155).
One was found by the late Norman Lacy at Haw Wood, Cribbs
Causeway on Spaniorum Hill sometime in June this year.
1940: (c.4)
Sometime in the spring and summer a pair nested and reared
young on a small piece of waste ground immediately adjoining
Yate railway station and only a few yards from the local
cinema.