The Red-Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is a fierce wild bird, but despite this, it is an attractive bird with a distinctive and beautiful appearance. The Red-Backed Shrike is found widely in Europe, Asia Minor, Russia, South Africa, and some Middle Eastern countries.
This bird can live in a variety of habitats, such as open forests, especially those rich in acacia trees, as well as meadows and mountainous areas at altitudes between 1000 and 2000 metres above sea level.
Like all birds, the Red-Backed Shrike feeds mainly on insects such as beetles and locusts, and also on small frogs and lizards.
It is easy to notice the difference between the male and female Red-Backed Shrike. The males are distinguished by the black mask on their face and their body covered with light brown feathers without any lines, along with a black tail with white lines on the sides. The females have a brown head with a spot on their cheeks and their bodies are striped in gray and black.
In July, the male begins to choose a site to build the nest, which is usually more than 2 metres high in thorny or coniferous bushes. The nest-building process takes about a week. The female lays between 4 and 6 white eggs with brown and black spots. The incubation period for the eggs lasts about two weeks, after which they hatch and the young emerge from the nest after about 20 days.
The Red-Backed Shrike can now be seen in the pastures and mountains of Dhofar Governorate, often found in thorny trees while trying to catch its food of insects and small creatures.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY YAHYA AL SALMANI
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