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.
References and further reading
World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 54The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 61
Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 168
Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 189
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
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 390
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 - 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 South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 491
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 642
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
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
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
Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 68
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 99
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 107
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 - 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
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 46