Mounted Red Backed Shrike

Collection

Museum of Enfield

Object number

Bc1253

Object name

Red Backed Shrike

Date

c.1954

Display caption

The red-backed shrike was once a summer visitor to the countryside around Enfield, but it is now very rare in Britain. Sometimes called the “butcher bird,” it catches insects, mice, and lizards and stores them by spiking them on thorns or sharp branches to eat later. It builds a neat nest hidden in thorny bushes, where the female lays 4 to 6 eggs and both parents help to care for the chicks.

Caption written by Malakaai Steele, work experience student July 2026

Location

Dugdale Arts Centre, Museum of Enfield, Nature