Former summer visitor.

Once common summer visitors to the south and east of England Red- Backed Shrikes are now extinct as breeding birds in Britain. They have been in a long decline since the nineteenth century, which has accelerated since the 1940s. Although the reasons for the decline are not fully understood, the loss of mixed farms with small fields and large hedges, and the heavy use of insecticides are believed to be the major causes.

Prior to 1916 they were characteristic birds of most parts of Hertfordshire. Foster (1914) described them as, “common near Stevenage”. In Hine (1934) Foster recorded that the Red-Backed Shrike was, “a common object on the telephone wires bordering the Great North Road between Stevenage and Biggleswade”. He also recorded that Doctor C. Grosvenor had reported that they regularly nested within half a mile of Stevenage High Street.

By the following year, 1935, they were declining in Hertfordshire, and despite being described by Sage in 1959 as being “fairly common”, the decline continued. The last suspected breeding in the County was at Oughton Head, Hitchin in 1974. 

Very rare winter visitor.

Two records, one was at Norton Green Tip from 2 to 19 January 2012 and, one was seen between Stevenage and, Walkern at Jack Pallett’s Spring on 22 and 23 October 2016.