266 BIRDS OF JSToRTH CAROLINA 



263. Lanius ludovicianus ludovicianus (Linn.}. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 



Description: Ads. Upperparts gray; wings and tail black; primaries white at base, secondaries 

 tipped with white; outer, sometimes all, the tail-feathers tipped with white; the outer feather 

 mostly white; lores black, connected by a narrow black line on the forehead at the base of the 

 bill; ear-coverts black; underparts white, sometimes tinged with gray. L., 9.00; W., 3.82; T., 

 3.87; B. from N., .48; depth of B. at N., .35 (average of nine Florida specimens). (Chap., 

 Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Southern States, north to North Carolina; resident. 



Range in North Carolina. Apparently the whole coastal region, more common in winter. 



FIG. 215. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 



The summer records of Loggerhead Shrikes in the coastal region are: LaGrange, 

 rather rare resident, breeds (Smith wick); Kelford, Bertie County, two seen on 

 telegraph wires, July 21, 1909 (Sherman); Kingsboro, Edgecombe County, two 

 seen at Test Farm, July 27, 1909, apparently mated (Sherman); and Laurinburg, 

 Scotland County, one seen April 27, 1909 (Sherman). On May 12, 1900, Pearson 

 found a pair of birds near the beach behind the sheltering dunes a few miles east 

 of Lockwood's Folly, Brunswick County, which evidently had a nest near by. In 

 searching for evidence to support this belief, he found an old nest which, from the 

 character of its structure, he felt sure had been built by Shrikes probably in the 

 previous year. 



The Loggerhead Shrike builds its nest in scrubby or thorny trees or hedges, 

 making a compact, bulky structure of weed stems, grass, rootlets, paper, wool, and 

 feathers, the latter being the lining and concealing the eggs from view. The eggs 

 range from four to six in number. In color they are dull whitish or greenish gray, 

 marked and spotted with dull purple, pale brown, or olive. Size .97 x .73. 



All shrikes have the habit of impaling their prey on thorns, splinters, and barbed- 

 wire fences, when not desired for immediate consumption. Their food consists of 

 large insects and small birds, mammals, and reptiles. C. S. Brimley recalls finding 

 a Myrtle Warbler once hanging on a small bush, with its head impaled on a sharp 

 thorn, and its dried body swinging in the wind. Pearson discovered a Shrike in 

 the act of impaling a Chipping Sparrow on a splinter of a wind-fallen tree. 



