Red-backed Shrike
CR

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-backed_shrike

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Laniidae

Northern ShrikeCR

Northern Shrike

Lanius excubitor

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Red-backed Shrike classified as Critically Endangered?
Red-backed Shrike is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. 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.
Where does Red-backed Shrike live?
Red-backed Shrike occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Red-backed Shrike?
The main threats to Red-backed Shrike are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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