Red-backed Shrike

Afrikaans name: Rooiruglaksman

Photo © Steven Herbert

Lanius collurio

The Red-backed Shrike is a migrant to South Africa in our summer. It spends our winter in Europe and Asia where it breeds.

The bird is about 17 cm in length and is normally seen perched on a low branch from where it keeps an eye out for insects which form the main part of its diet. It will also take larger prey items such as small birds, frogs and lizards.

An interesting habit of this, and similar, Shrikes is to store food items on thorns. Their plan is come back at a later stage and eat them. This characteristic has earned these birds a nickname of butcher-birds.

Male Red-backed Shrikes are far more colourful than females. The females are plainer and look like they have 'juvenile' colouration.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	708	Lanius collurio collurio
2nd	708	Lanius collurio
3rd	708	Lanius collurio
4th	708	Lanius collurio
5th	733	Lanius collurio
6th	733	Lanius collurio
7th	573	Lanius collurio

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	708	Red-backed Shrike
2nd	708	Red-backed Shrike
3rd	708	Red-backed Shrike
4th	708	Red-backed Shrike
5th	733	Redbacked Shrike
6th	733	Redbacked Shrike
7th	573	Red-backed Shrike

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	708	Rooirug-laksman
2nd	708	Rooirug-laksman
3rd	708	Rooirug-laksman
4th	708	Rooirug-laksman
5th	733	Rooiruglaksman
6th	733	Rooiruglaksman
7th	573	Rooiruglaksman

References and further reading

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 54

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 168

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 61

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 40

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 299

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 189

Shrikes of Southern Africa - Author: Tony Harris and Graeme Arnott - Published: 0 - Page: 48

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 78

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 390

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 358

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 641

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 502

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 642

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 491

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 380

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 370

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 278

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 224

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 370

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 188

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 68

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 107

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 230

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 73

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 99

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 247

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 192

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 46

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 46

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 265

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds