The Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is a striking migratory songbird known for its hooked bill and bold behavior. In Lebanon, it passes through during spring and autumn migration and can be found in open countryside, scrublands, and agricultural fields with scattered shrubs or fences. Males are easily recognized by their reddish back, grey head, and black facial mask, while females are more subtly patterned. Red-backed Shrikes are often seen perched prominently, scanning for insects, small reptiles, and even other small birds — which they sometimes impale on thorns for later consumption, earning them the nickname "butcher bird."