Woodchat Shrike vs Red-backed Shrike

The Woodchat Shrike is a noticeable medium-sized bird known for its rich chestnut-coloured head and neck, bold black mask, and white underside with clear white patches on the shoulders that can be seen when it flies. The dark upper parts stand out sharply against the reddish-brown cap, making it easy to recognise among European shrikes. It visits southern Europe and the Mediterranean in summer. It is a rare visitor to Britain during migration, most often seen in spring along the southern and eastern coasts. Sometimes, a few birds travel further north than usual. This bird prefers open countryside with scattered trees and bushes, especially warm, dry areas like orchards, olive groves, and Mediterranean scrub. Like other shrikes, it hunts from exposed perches, feeding on large insects, small lizards, and sometimes small birds. It has a habit of sticking its prey on thorns.

The Red-backed Shrike is a striking bird seen in the summer. Male birds have a blue-grey head, a warm reddish-brown back, and a distinctive black stripe through the eye. Female birds are browner with faint stripes. This bird is smaller and more delicate than the Great Grey Shrike, with a shorter bill in proportion to its body. It is often seen hunting from open perches, watching grassland for large insects, small mammals, and lizards. The Red-backed Shrike used to be common across Britain but now mainly breeds in continental Europe, from Spain to Siberia. It prefers warm, open countryside with thorny bushes. In the UK, it is mostly seen as a rare visitor during spring and autumn along the eastern and southern coasts. The bird needs areas with dense bushes for nesting and high perches that overlook grassland or heathland rich in insects. One unusual behaviour of this bird is that it impales its prey on thorns, which sets it apart from other birds in its group.