Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurio
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-backed_shrike
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Laniidae
Genus
Lanius
Red-backed Shrike belongs to the family Laniidae, order Passeriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Red-backed Shrike faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and agricultural intensification that eliminates the thorny scrubland and traditional farming landscapes it depends on. Climate change is altering the timing and availability of insect prey, while pesticide use has dramatically reduced food sources, pushing this species toward critical endangerment.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Open countryside with scattered thorny bushes, scrubland, and traditional agricultural landscapes including pastures with hedgerows, rough grassland, and woodland edges. Requires areas with prominent perches for hunting and dense, spiny vegetation for nesting, typically in lowland and upland regions up to 2000m elevation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Red-backed Shrike faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and agricultural intensification that eliminates the thorny scrubland and traditional farming landscapes it depends on. Climate change is altering the timing and availability of insect prey, while pesticide use has dramatically reduced food sources, pushing this species toward critical endangerment.
Agricultural intensification and loss of traditional farming practices
Climate change affecting prey timing and migration patterns
Habitat destruction of scrubland and hedgerow systems
Loss of thorny bushes and nesting sites
Pesticide use reducing insect prey availability
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/red-backed-shrike