Red-backed Shrike

Description:

The Red-backed Shrike, nicknamed "Butcher bird" is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. Typical shrike appearance, with grey head and black mask across the eyes. Male has a reddish coat (pictured), while the female and young birds have brownish coats. Underparts are reddish-creamy-white or dirty-white in color.

Habitat:

Mediterranean vegetation, a row of trees very close to the sea.

Notes:

It hunts from prominent perches like all shrikes (pictured). It earned the nickname "Butcher bird", because, like many other shrikes (all?) impales its prey on thorns or barbed wire as a store.