1. Red-backed shrike – Lanius collurio
Red-backed shrike is a small bird with a body length of 17-20 cm and a weight of 26-35 g. The adult plumage of the upper body is ash-gray, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic black pattern on the chest. The head is rounded, with a long, thin beak. The red-backed shrike has long legs and fingers, which allows it to walk along the branches of trees.
Red-backed shrike is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The red-backed shrike is a migratory bird. It lives in forests, parks, gardens and fields. The red-backed shrikes nest in the hollows of trees, sometimes occupying the nests of other birds. The nest is built of small branches, moss and lichens. There are 4-7 eggs in the clutch of the red-backed shrike. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 12-14 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
Red-backed shrike eats insects, their larvae, spiders, rodents, small birds and reptiles. The red-backed shrike catches prey on tree branches, on the ground, and in the air.
Red-backed shrike is a fairly common species and is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko