Lanius excubitor
adult
From Alamy: Glenn Bartley/All Canada Photos/Alamy Stock Photo: Northern Shrike.
The Northern Shrike is a larger, more heavily built cousin of the Loggerhead Shrike. The sexes are similar. Adults have pale gray upperparts and a black “mask” that reaches the bill but does not continue around the forehead (cf. Loggerhead). The underparts are very pale gray. The wings are mainly black but with a white patch at the base of the primaries; this is obvious in flight and more extensive than in Loggerhead. The long, tapered tail is mainly black but with white feather tips. Juveniles are similar to adults but the gray and white plumage elements are replaced by reddish buff; the underparts are barred faintly and the “mask” is faint. This plumage is usually largely replaced by adult-like plumage by early winter.
Northern Shrikes are present in their Arctic and boreal breeding range mainly from May to September. The species moves south to central North America for the rest of the year. This bold predator often perches on an overhead wire or dead branch. Larger prey items (small birds and mammals) are sometimes impaled on thorns or barbed wire before being dismembered.
adult
From Nature Photographers Ltd: Klaus Bjerre: Northern Shrike.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 10 in (25.5 cm)
FOOD Insects, small mammals, and birds
HABITAT Tundra and taiga forest in summer; open country with scattered trees in winter
STATUS Widespread but never common
VOICE Song is a series of harsh squawks, chatters, and trills. Calls include a shrill kreek, kreek . . .
