210 PASSERES: Perching Birds 



LANIID^E (Family Shrikes): Medium-sized birds; gray, white, 

 and black. Distinguished by the heavy, strongly hooked bill, 

 short wings, and swift, direct flight. 



CALIFORNIA SHRIKE 



(622b. Lanius ludovicianus gambeli) 8f in. 



Slaty gray above ; dull white below, breast indistinctly waved 

 with pale brown; wings black with white spot; tail black, widely 

 white-edged; a broad black bar from bill to nape, across eye, 

 distinguishes the genus; locality usually identifies the species. 

 Bill stout, hooked at tip. 



Popularly known as Butcher-bird, from its habit of impaling 

 its victims, in the shape of grasshoppers, lizards, mice, etc., on 

 thorns or fence-wire barbs. 



WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE 



(622a. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides) 8f in. 



Like the California species, but paler above; white markings 

 of tail larger; clear white below. 



Best identified by its habitat, whence it rarely strays. The 

 Butcher-bird of the desert. 



ISLAND SHRIKE 



(622c. Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi) 8| in. 

 Smaller and darker than the California Shrike, with which it 

 is identical in habits. 



FAMILY VIREOS 



Small birds, more or less greenish in color. Bill hooked as in 

 Shrikes, but less heavy. Some species of Shrike-like aspect, 

 others Warbler-like. 



WESTERN WARBLING VIREO 



(627a. Vireosylva gilva swainsoni) 5 in. 



Olive-gray above, darker on crown; white below, sides with 

 yellowish wash; a whitish line over eye. 



Song: A deliberate, rolling warble of about eight notes. This, 

 frequently repeated, is characteristic of the species. 



