gi 

 bi 



198 



in fact feet no stronger than those of a Sparrow or Blackbird of equal size. 

 They, therefore, seize prey with their bill and, to hold it while feeding, 

 have evolved the habit of impaling it upon strong thorns, etc. ; this habit 

 ives them the popular title of Butcher-birds. Shrikes are bold, spirited 

 irds and quite as daring and capable in proportion to their size as any of 

 the true birds of prey. The family is large and widely distributed. Only 

 one genus is represented in America and two species in North America. 



Genus Lanius. Shrikes. 



621. Northern Shrike. BUTCHER-BIRD. FR. LA PIE-GRIECHE BOREALE. Lanius 

 borealis. L, 10-32. Similar to the Loggerhead Shrike (Plate XXXVIII A) but larger 

 and with a series of fine wavy lines or vermiculations faintly showing across most of the 

 underparts. 



Distinctions. General coloration and notched bill will distinguish this as a Shrike. 

 Size and the distinct vermiculations below will characterize it as the Northern Shrike. 



Field Marks. The sharply contrasted amount of black and white on the wings and 

 tail, the grey upperparts, and the black band through eye. Any Shrike seen in eastern 

 Canada in winter between October and March will be of this species. 



Nesting. In low trees or bushes in nest of twigs, grasses, etc. 



Distribution. Northern America, breeding beyond regular settlement across the 

 continent, south in winter. 



The Northern Shrike is the bolder and more energetic of our two species' 

 It is a northern breeder and is seen only in cultivated sections in the winter 

 where it follows the flocks of Snow Buntings, Redpolls, etc. It has shown 

 some tendency to come into cities and villages in pursuit of the House or 

 English Sparrow, in which work it is to be encouraged in every way. Dry, 

 mummied mice and birds occasionally found pinned to thorns and barbs 

 of wire fences or hanging from the close forks of twigs are usually the 

 victims of this species. 



Economic Status. Though thoroughly raptorial in habit the Northern 

 Shrike cannot be said to do a great amount of damage. It is not common 

 enough within settlement to be a serious factor in the small bird life of the 

 fields. It catches numbers of mice and probably its attacks on them and 

 on the House or English Sparrow compensate for the seed-eating birds it 

 takes. 



622. Loggerhead Shrike. MIGRANT SHRIKE, BUTCHER-BIRD. FR. LA PIE-GRIECHE 

 MIGRATRICE. Lanius ludovicianus. L, 9. Plate XXXVIII A. 



Distinctions. This species can hardly be mistaken for any bird but the Northern 

 and it is considerably smaller than that species. The adult is without the fine vermi- 

 culations of the breast and in the juvenile they are only faintly suggested. A summer and 

 not a winter bird in Canada. 



Field Marks. The clear white and light grey of the body plumage; black wings, and tail 

 strongly accentuated with white; and the black band through the face are distinctive of the 

 Shrikes. Any summer Shrike within the cultivated sections will be of this species. 



Nesting. Nest of strips of bark, small twigs, and vegetable fibres lined with felted 

 wool and feathers. 



Distribution. As a species, North America north to the limit of cultivation. The 

 migrant Shrike occupies eastern North America north of the Gulf states and west to the 

 prairie provinces. 



SUBSPECIES. The Loggerhead Shrike, like many other wide-ranging species, 

 develops various local characteristics in different parts of its diversified range, each forming 

 a recognized subspecies. The form occupying eastern Canada is the Migrant Shrike, L.I. 

 migrans, separable from the type subspecies in the southern United States or the White- 

 rumped of the west by only slight differences of colour and proportions. 



