A robin-sized predatory songbird that impales small mammals, birds, and large insects on thorns and barbed wire to store food. Sometimes called "butcher bird."
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The northern shrike is a large songbird species in the shrike family (Laniidae) native to North America and Siberia. Long considered a subspecies of the great grey shrike, it was classified as a distinct species in 2017. Six subspecies are recognised.
Source: Wikipedia — Northern shrike Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Pale gray songbird, larger than Loggerhead, with a black mask that does NOT meet over the base of the bill, a relatively pale-based hooked bill, and fine barring on the breast (especially immatures).
Similar species. Loggerhead Shrike is smaller and cleaner-breasted with a black mask meeting over an all-dark bill; the Northern is larger, paler, and faintly barred.
Voice. A varied warbling song with harsh notes (often mimics other birds); a grating 'shek-shek'.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, small vertebrates; impales prey on thorns.
Behavior. A predatory songbird of the far north that moves south in winter; hunts small birds and mammals from exposed perches and, like its relative, impales prey on thorns and barbs.
§ Range
Breeds Canada and Alaska; winters across northern US
§ Habitat
Open habitats with scattered trees: shrubs, hedgerows, taiga edges
§ Threats
Habitat loss, secondary rodenticide poisoning, vehicle strikes.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the northern shrike is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain shrub habitat. Skip rodenticides. Don't remove thorny shrubs.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Northern shrike
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Lanius borealis
- IUCN Red List — search for Lanius borealis
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Lanius borealis
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
