There is a pair of Red-Backed Shrikes in my neighbourhood that I haven’t yet been able to see. I knew, however, where they typically hang out so I went there yesterday with my camera and tripod, set up the camera to point and potential perches and finally managed to see them and take a few short videos!
Their German name, Neuntöter, translates to “Nine Killer”. It is said that they kill nine things before they actually eat one. This isn’t actually too far fetched as Red-Backed Shrikes kill insects, small rodents or baby birds and hang them up on thorny bushes and other plants for later. The bush the female is perched on later on in the video is a blackberry bush which has thorns.
Nice find! Crazy to think that exact bird might be the one that I’ve seen here in the southern hemisphere in our summer
I know, right? It’s quite amazing how far they travel and how they find their way! Another pair (probably even the same pair!) was seen at the exact same spot last year as well.
Very cool! One of those i didn’t manage to spot so far.