THE BIRD BOOK 



620. PHAINOPEPLA. Phainopepla 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 Light gray 

 fibres, etc., placed on branches of trees, usually below 20 

 feet from the ground, in thickets or open woods near water, 

 the eggs are two or three in number, light gray, spotted 

 sharply with black; size .88 x .65. Data. Pasadena, Cal., 

 July 15, 1894. Nest in an oak 10 feet up; composed of 

 weeds and string. Collector, Horace Gaylord. 



SHRIKES. Family LANIID^ 



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 ear 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 in- 

 sects, 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 

 Grayish white 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 ludo- 

 vicianus ludovicianus . 



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 tan- 

 gled brush, showing a pre- 

 dilection for dense thorn 

 bushes, where they place Grayish white 

 their piles of weeds, grasses, feathers and rub- 

 bish; the four or five eggs are laid in April 

 or May; they are like those of the last, but 

 smaller, averaging .96 x .72. 



376 



Northern Shrike 



