NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



283 



620. Phainopepla. Phainopep la nitens . 

 Range. Southwestern United States and Mexico; north to southern Utah and 



Colorado. 



This peculiar crested species is wholly shining blue black 

 except for a patch of white on the inner webs of the primaries. 

 Their habits are somewhat like those of the Cedar-bird, they 

 being restless, and feeding upon berries or insects, catching 

 the latter in the air. They make loosely constructed nests of 

 twigs, mosses, plant fibres, etc., placed on branches of trees, 

 usually below 20 feet from the ground, in thickets or open 



Horace Gaylord. 



SHRIKES. Family LAIMIID/E. 



[Grayish white.] 



621. Northern Shrike. Lanius borealis. 



Range. North America, breeding north of our borders; winters in northern 

 half of the United States and casually farther south. 



All Shrikes are similar in nature and plumage, being 

 grayish above and white below, with black wings, tail and 

 car patches, and with white outer tail feathers and bases of 

 primaries; the present species may be known by its larger 

 size (length over 10 inches) and wavy dusky lines on the 

 breast. They are bold and cruel birds, feeding upon 

 insects, small rodents and small birds, in the capture of 

 which they display great cunning and courage; as they 

 have weak feet, in order to tear their prey to pieces with their hooked bill, they 

 impale it upon thorns. They nest in thickets and tangled underbrush, making 

 their nests of vines, grasses, catkins, etc., matted together into a rude structure. 

 During April or May they lay from four to six grayish white eggs, spotted and 

 blotched with yellowish brown and umber; size 1.05 x .75. 



622. Loggerhead Shrike. Lanius ludovicianm. 



Range. United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to New England and 

 Illinois; winters in Southern States. 



Like the last but smaller (length 9 inches), not marked 

 below and with the ear patches sharply defined. They nest in 

 hedges or thickly tangled brush, showing a predilection for 

 dense thorn bushes, where they place their piles of weeds, 

 grasses, feathers and rubbish; the four or five eggs are laid in 

 April or May; they are like those of the last, but smaller, aver- 



[Grayish white.] aging .96 x .72. 



622a. White-rumped Shrike. L. I. excubitorides. 



Range. North America, west of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba and 

 the Saskatchewan; winters south to Mexico. 



Like the last but paler and the rump white. Their nesting habits and eggs 

 .are in every respect like those of the Loggerhead Shrike. 



622b. California Shrike. 7,. 1. gambelL 



Range. Pacific coast north to British Columbia. 



Similar to the eastern form but with the breast washed with brownish and with 

 indistinct wavy bars. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the 

 others. 



Island Shrike. L. I. anthonyi. 

 Range. Santa Barbara Islands, California. 

 Like the last but smaller and darker. Eggs not distinguishable. 



