The Red-backed shrike is called Neuntöter in German (Ninetimes-Killer) since it likes to store the insects it catches on thornbushes. I have already taken several pictures of this birds at different locations. But it likes open fields with small vegetation. The edge of forrets when connected to an open field or grassland is perfect. And this picture was made at a green area between two crop fields, where a lot of bushes, thornbushes and smaller vegetation grows. They either eat the insects they catch right away or build up a storage of them on thornbushes, to eat them later. Only few bird species actually prepare a storage for food and one of them is the red-backed shrike.
Red backed shrike with insect. Picture: Florian Glechner.
Camera used | Nikon D500 |
---|---|
Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
Filter used | none |
Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
Aperture used | F6.3 |
Focal Length | 600 mm |
Time | 01:27 pm |
ISO | 100 |
I always like it when I can take pictures of birds in t heir natural habitat and on this day in Lower Austria I was able to do that. There are some bird species that can adapt really well to the urbanisation and some do live in the cities too but some birds are really endangered since their habitat is declining because of us humans.
Thornbushes are the prefered vegetation for the red backed shrike. Picture: Florian Glechner.
Camera used | Nikon D500 |
---|---|
Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
Filter used | none |
Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
Aperture used | F6.3 |
Focal Length | 600 mm |
Time | 01:27 pm |
ISO | 100 |
Male Red backed shrike on a thornbush. Picture: Florian Glechner.
Camera used | Nikon D500 |
---|---|
Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
Filter used | none |
Exposure Time | 1/1000 Seconds |
Aperture used | F6.3 |
Focal Length | 600 mm |
Time | 01:27 pm |
ISO | 100 |
Shrikes are notorious and I have seen many in our park and close to my home. Never seen their victims, hanged on thorns.
Brilliant images of the male shrike.
Maybe this is also a "regional" behavoir depending on the availability of food. I don't know exactly.