Red-Backed Shrike (Lanius Collurio) Sitting On A Single Branch Royalty-Free Stock Image

Lanius collurio, commonly known as the Red-Backed Shrike, is a small, striking passerine bird belonging to the shrike family, Laniidae. Males are distinguished by their vibrant reddish-brown back, gray crown, and black mask extending from the beak to the nape, while females and juveniles have more subdued plumage with a brownish back and less pronounced facial markings. This bird is found across Europe and parts of Asia, favoring open woodland edges, shrubby areas, and grasslands. The Red-Backed Shrike is known for its predatory behavior, feeding on insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally fruits, often impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire as a method of food storage.