Bunting, Snow. Snowflake 



In its plumage it reflects the winter landscape, an 

 expanse of white surmounted or streaked with gray or 

 brown; a field of snow with a line of woods or a tinge 

 of stubble. 



BURROUGHS. Birds and Poets. 10 



These are the true winter birds for you, these winged 

 snowballs. 



THOREAU. Winter. 15 



BUTCHER-BIRD. NORTHERN SHRIKE 



Not even a hawk himself can produce the consternation 

 among a flock of sparrows that the harsh, rasping voice 



of the butcher-bird creates Every shrike either 



impales or else hangs up, as a butcher does his meat, more 

 little birds of many kinds, field-mice, grasshoppers, and 

 other large insects than it can hope to devour in a week 

 of bloody orgies. Field-mice are perhaps its favorite diet 

 but even snakes are not disdained. 



NELTJE BLANCHAN. Bird Neighbors. 23 



The shrike has a hawk's bill but a sparrow's foot, and, 

 lacking the powerful talons that make so deadly a weapon, 

 he captures his prey with his strong mandibles. Possibly 

 it may be due to his comparatively weak feet that he 

 pursues the singular custom of impaling his prey on some 

 thorn or hanging it from a crotch where he can better 

 dissect it. 



CHAPMAN. Bird Life. 22 



39 



