Fluffed
The Northern Shrike, like other shrikes, kills more prey, if it can, than it can immediately eat or feed to nestlings. Such behavior was characterized by early observers as "wanton killing," but the Northern Shrike stores excess prey to eat later. Storing food is an adaptation for surviving periods of food scarcity.
The Latin species name of the Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor, means "Butcher watchman."
The nest of the Northern Shrike is an open cup, but it is so deep that while incubating, the female is completely out of view except for the tip of her tail.
Description
Size: 23-24 cm (9-9 in)
Wingspan: 30-35 cm (12-14 in)
Weight: 56-79 g (1.98-2.79 ounces)
Medium-sized songbird.
Gray back.
Whitish throat and chest.
Black mask.
Large head.
Medium-long tail.
Stout bill with hook at end.
Wings black with white patch.
Tail black with white outer feathers.
Faint wavy gray barring across chest.
Bill black, with base of lower mandible pale in winter.
Narrow white stripe above face mask.
Black of mask not extending over bill.
Eyes dark brown.
Legs and feet black.
Population trends are difficult to assess because of the Northern Shrike's rarity and remoteness of its breeding habitat. Large areas of suitable breeding habitat in Alaska and northern Canada are protected.
www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Sh...
Fluffed
The Northern Shrike, like other shrikes, kills more prey, if it can, than it can immediately eat or feed to nestlings. Such behavior was characterized by early observers as "wanton killing," but the Northern Shrike stores excess prey to eat later. Storing food is an adaptation for surviving periods of food scarcity.
The Latin species name of the Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor, means "Butcher watchman."
The nest of the Northern Shrike is an open cup, but it is so deep that while incubating, the female is completely out of view except for the tip of her tail.
Description
Size: 23-24 cm (9-9 in)
Wingspan: 30-35 cm (12-14 in)
Weight: 56-79 g (1.98-2.79 ounces)
Medium-sized songbird.
Gray back.
Whitish throat and chest.
Black mask.
Large head.
Medium-long tail.
Stout bill with hook at end.
Wings black with white patch.
Tail black with white outer feathers.
Faint wavy gray barring across chest.
Bill black, with base of lower mandible pale in winter.
Narrow white stripe above face mask.
Black of mask not extending over bill.
Eyes dark brown.
Legs and feet black.
Population trends are difficult to assess because of the Northern Shrike's rarity and remoteness of its breeding habitat. Large areas of suitable breeding habitat in Alaska and northern Canada are protected.
www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Sh...