Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

IDENTIFICATION

It is characterised by a crest on its head, grey and brown plumage, and a black tail with white markings along the edges. This bird is found across much of Europe, Asia and Africa, where it inhabits open areas such as cultivated fields, grasslands, scrubland and pastureland. It is a territorial and solitary bird, although it can sometimes be seen in small groups during migration.

LIFESTYLE

It feeds mainly on insects, small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. It has the peculiar habit of impaling its prey on thorns, branches or barbed wire, as a way of storing food for later consumption. This technique has earned it the nickname ‘butcher’. In terms of behaviour, the red-backed shrike is a quiet and discreet species, which usually watches its prey from high perches before swooping down to catch them. Its song is a soft, pleasant trill, which it mainly sings during the breeding season to mark its territory and attract a mate.

INTERESTING FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS

One interesting fact about the red-backed shrike is its ability to mimic the songs of other birds, which allows it to throw potential rivals or predators off the scent. They are also known to be partial migrants; in other words, some populations undertake short migrations during the winter, whilst others remain in their breeding grounds all year round. Another interesting fact is that it often takes advantage of the poor physical condition of other migratory birds to hunt them.