Critical shear stresses for erosion of alluvial shale particles were investigated in a laboratory flume. Tests in the incipient motion conditions of individual particles showed that entrainment of shale bed particles takes place at mean shear stress values 40–50% smaller than other types of non-cohesive and coarse granular material. The low density and platy shape of the shale particles may induce high lift forces, which would account for a decrease in the resistance to erosion of shale channels and greater rates of bed-load transport. Keywords: channel stability, critical shear stress, flume tests, initiation of motion, shale gravels, single particles, weak bed material movement.