LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 143 



its own, which it holds defiantly to the exclusion of others of its kind." 

 Other species often nest in fairly close proximity, however, without 

 molestation. 



Some observers have considered the loggerhead as a quarrelsome 

 species, but, though instances of it no doubt take place, the writer has 

 never been impressed with this as a characteristic. On the whole, the 

 bird gets along very well with its avian neighbors, some of which are 

 very close neighbors at times. Audubon (1842) had a rather poor 

 opinion of the loggerhead's disposition, for he says, in explanation 

 of his drawing, that "I have given you, kind reader, the representative 

 of a pair of these Shrikes, contending for a mouse. The difference of 

 plumage in the sexes is scarcely perceptible; but I have thought it 

 necessary to figure both, in order to shew the quarrelsome disposi- 

 tion of these birds even when united by the hymeneal band." 



Voice. — Though the loggerhead has little reputation in vocal per- 

 formance, it has always seemed to the writer that what attainment is 

 reached has been rather cavalierly treated in the literature. Few de- 

 scriptions of its notes are complimentary ! While it can hardly be 

 said to be a singer, its efforts in spring are worthy of some notice and, 

 in certain individuals at any rate, possess a surprisingly melodious 

 quality. It is true that such notes are interspersed with others any- 

 thing but musical, but the general effect is a liquid tone that is 

 definitely pleasing. 



Howell (1932) says: "The birds are not noisy but most of their 

 notes are harsh and unmusical ; occasionally one makes an attempt at 

 singing, which Chapman describes as 'a series of guttural gurgles, 

 squeaky whistles and shrill pipes.' " It is the impression of the writer 

 that all male shrikes "make an attempt at singing" during the nesting 

 season. In coastal South Carolina and the Okeechobee region of 

 Florida he feels certain that the song is indulged by all mated birds. 

 Shrikes are abundant in both areas, and the writer is intimately ac- 

 quainted with them. While "guttural" is apt enough to describe 

 many of the notes, and it is the case that "most of the calls are harsh 

 and unmusical," this applies more to the alarm and call notes than 

 the song, if this term can be employed. Some of the latter are very 

 liquid, fluteiike, and appealing, so much so that many observers are 

 surprised to find them issuing from a loggerhead. 



Peterson (1939) is rather more generous in his comments, saying 

 that the song of the loggerhead is "similar to that of the Northern 

 Shrike," which he describes as "a long-continued thrasher-like suc- 

 cession of phrases, harsher on the whole than the Thrasher's song." 

 It is this writer's experience that the loggerhead's efforts are seldom 

 "long-continued," but it is refreshing to hear the bird compared to 

 the thrasher ! One could ask little better. 



Peterson has an able foundation in his comparison in a statement 



