Red-backed Shrike

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Red-backed Shrike, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Red listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	Yes
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I,IV), WBD(I), Bern(III)

The Red-backed Shrike was a widespread breeding species in the UK but experienced substantial declines during the 19th and 20th centuries and became effectively extinct as a UK breeding bird in 1989, although since 2004 very small numbers have again bred in most years (Davies & Lock 2016). The species is monitored by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, with a mean of just four breeding pairs reported over the five-year period 2015–2019 (Eaton et al. 2021).

During Bird Atlas 2007–11

Red-backed Shrikes underwent an extensive range contraction through the late 20th century, dwindling to one pair in the 1990s.

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)

-88.3%

Red-backed Shrike is a very rare breeder, with most records relating to passage migrants in May/June and in August to October.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Wing Length	Adults	95.5±2 | Range 92–98mm, N=74
	Juveniles	93.6±1.4 | Range 91.5-95.5mm, N=20
	Males	96.2±1.6 | Range 93–99mm, N=38
	Females	94.8±2.1 | Range 92–98mm, N=36

Body Weight	Adults	28.5±2.4 | Range 24.1–32.5g, N=74
	Males	28.3±2.4 | Range 23.4–33.0g, N=38
	Females	28.6±2.4 | Range 24.2–32.5g, N=36

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	B
Field Codes	2-letter: ED | 5-letter code: REBSH | Euring: 15150

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Causes of change

The reasons for the decline in Britain are unclear, although poor breeding performance is not thought to have driven the decline (Tryjanowski et al. 2006). Factors affecting the population may have including agriculatural intensification and hence a reduction in scrubby habitat and large invertebrates, and egg-collecting and other human distrubance; habitat managment and recreation may be important (along with other actions) to increase the likelihood that Red-backed Shrike can recolonise the UK (see review by Davies & Lock 2016). A study of six European populations found that warmer summer weather was correlated with breeding success and hence suggests climate change could possibly benefit the species in the future, although note that the study did not assess the effects of more extreme weather and also cautioned that other factors such as habitat and predation may be more important drivers in some populations (Søgaard Jørgensen et al. 2013).