Cantankerous, belligerent, aggressive, brave and selfless – which bird could be described with such qualities? This time, nature researcher Ilmārs Tīrmanis introduces us more closely to the red-backed shrike, a species quite widespread and common in Europe, which has been granted the status of a specially protected species. The red-backed shrike can be spotted in forest regeneration clearings where small shrubs have grown, as this is the best place for the shrike to hunt.

The red-backed shrike becomes belligerent and aggressive when it has to protect its chosen territory from a competing member of its own species or its offspring from a potential threat. It is worth remembering: a shrike may also consider a human a threat to its nest. In such instances, the red-backed shrike first performs warning swoops, but if that does not help, actual attacks follow, and a person's head may receive pecks from its beak. Shrikes earned their name due to their characteristic call – a 'chak' sound. In case of danger, or even when just agitated, shrikes sway their long tails from side to side and emit loud acoustic alarm signals: 'chak – chak – chak'.