About
The larger and more northerly inclined of our two U.S. shrikes is a rare winter visitor to places I've lived like Maryland and California. This attractive robin-sized bird is actually a fierce predator, feeding on pretty much anything it can kill. This sometimes includes birds larger than itself! It "catches prey with beak, stuns it, and often impales it on sharp thorns or branches until ready to eat" (Smithsonian's Birds of North America). Watch for this species atop prominent perches, including high in trees like the bird shown here. Note the narrow mask, which does not extend over the eyes or bill, and the distinctly hooked bill, which distinguish it from the very similar Loggerhead Shrike.Synonyms:
- NSHR
- Great Grey Shrike