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Lanius collurio

warning Vulnerable
VU (C2a1,D1)

Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Lior Kislev
Update Time: Jan. 1, 2011, 7:39 a.m.

The Red-backed Shrike is classified as Vulnerable (VU) due to its small and declining population. Its present population is estimated at below 1,000 adults and its rate of decline is estimated to exceed 10% over 3 generations (12 years). In the previous edition of the red book (2002), it was classified as Near Threatened (NT). The change in the species threat category reflects continued decreases in population size and range.
VU Current Regional Assessment | NT Previous Regional Assessment | LC Global Assessment

Habitats Parks & Woodlands, Rural Areas
Presence In Israel Migrant, Summer
Breeding In Israel Breeder
Migration Types Long Range
Zoographical Zones Mediterranean
Landscape Types Mountainous
Vegetation Types Mediterranean Maquis, Mediterranean Garrigue, Steppe
Vegetation Densities Medium, Low
Nest Locations Tree, Bushes
Diet Types Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds Ground, Trees and Shrubs
Body Sizes Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors Pesticide Poisoning, Habitat destruction in migration and wintering areas, Habitat loss and fragmentation

The Red-backed Shrike is a medium-sized shrike with relatively long tail and wings. The male is prominently colored with a black mask around its eyes, a light gray head and neck and a chestnut-colored back. The females and immatures are paler and barred, and lack the black mask.

The Red-backed Shrike is a common passage migrant throughout Israel in spring and fall migration, and a common summer breeder on Mt. Hermon and rare in the northern Golan Heights and the Upper Galilee.

Nests in shrubs, sparse woodland and at the edges of agricultural groves. During migration can be seen on trees and shrubs in all habitats.

The main threat to Red-backed Shrikes in Israel is habitat modification due to development, afforestation and agriculture in the northern Golan Heights, as well as road building, and development of ski runs and other installations on Mt. Hermon. In agricultural areas, the species is probably affected adversely by pesticides, and in wintering and migration areas in Africa by habitat change, desertification and depletion of food sources.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

  • ישראלי, נ. ופרלמן, י. 2013. סיכום סקר עופות מקננים בחרמון. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.
  • פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Lior Kislev

Current Occupancy Map

Current occupancy map by density
Data Missing Sporadic Limited Sites Low Density High Density
0 0 0 0 0

Distribution maps

The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel from the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and breeding density during the comparison period. For further reading


Relative Abundance 2010-2020

Breeding density values in the current decade as determined from experts' opinion and observations from databases.

Relative Abundance 2010-2020 by density
Data Missing Sporadic Limited Sites Low Density High Density
8 12 12 21 19

Relative Abundance 1980-1990

Density values based primarily on the book The Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Relative Abundance 1980-1990 by density
Data Missing Sporadic Limited Sites Low Density High Density
5 14 14 17 22

Occupancy 1990-2020

The map shows differences in the species breeding distribution between the 1980's breeding map and the current weighted breeding evaluation. Negative value - species previously bred in the grid and is not presently breeding; positive value - species has not previously bred in the grid and is currently breeding.

Occupancy 1990-2020
Data Missing No Change Occupancy Increase Occupancy Decrease
6 35 1 9

Change in Relative Abundance 1990-2020

The map shows the changes in the relative abundance of a species in each of the distribution grids between the breeding map of the 1980s and the weighted current breeding evaluation. Negative values - decline in abundance; positive values - increase in abundance; zero - no change in abundance.

Change in Relative Abundance 1990-2020
80 to 100 50 20 to 30 No Change 30- to 20- 50- 100- to 80- Data Missing
0 4 2 22 12 14 11 16

Rarity
Vulnerability
Attractiveness
Endemism
Red number
Peripherality
IUCN category
Threat Definition according to the red book
() districts
Disjunctiveness:
% of protected sites

Other Species

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Lanius nubicus
Lanius excubitor
Lanius minor