Loggerhead Shrike. 9^ 



branches droop almost to the ground with their weight of 

 boughs and foliage. A few species nest only in hedges 

 which border or overhang ditches and low meadows, 

 while other species resort to hedgerows only in certain 

 portions of the summer season. 



LOGGEKHEAD SHEIKE. 



The loggerhead shrike is one of the familiar tenants of 

 the hedgerow in early spring, and most boys recognize its 

 well-built form perched on the summit of an upright 

 branch, stake, or small isolated tree. However, it is sel- 

 dom known among its rural friends by the title we have 

 used, but it will be quickly recognized under its more 

 popular name of "butcher bird." The shrike is famous 

 for its unexplained habit of impaling its prey upon thorns, 

 and in this curious trait we find the origin of its popular 

 title. This bird can be identified easily by strangers by 

 the ashy-gray plumage, wilh black wings and tail, the 

 black stripe upon the side of the head, and the white spot 

 displayed on the black wings while the bird is flying. 

 Persons who have observed the mocking bird in flight will 

 remember that it also displays white spots on its wings. 



This bold privateer early claimed a place among my 

 avian acquaintances. On my initial visit to the woods, 

 when I was first allowed to go fishing with several older 

 companions, we passed a low thorn-tree along the road- 

 side, from which flew out a grayish bird with white spots 

 on its wings. "There goes a butcher bird," and " No, it's 

 a French mocking bird," and " He's got a nest in there," 

 cried the boys, with a rush for the tree. Thus I was in- 

 troduced to the butcher bird, which I was afterward told 

 by higher authority was the great northern shrike. How- 

 ever, when I owned a gun and became interested in 

 ornithology, I learned by examination of the birds that 

 our winter shrike diff'ers in important details from the 

 summer resident. The great northern shrike visits us 

 only in winter, and is not known to nest in Illinois; while 

 our summer shrike is the loggerhead species. The latter 

 is no less powerful, cruel, and bold than the northern 



