580 Colorado College Publication 



Lanius borealis. Northern Shrike. 



Winter visitor ; common. Earliest date of arrival, October 

 17, 1874; latest spring date, April 9, 1899, 



When one speaks of the Shrike as common it is not that 

 they are so numerous, but because, though individually few, 

 there are always some with us through the winter. It is 

 usually to be seen perched on a tree or post, near brush 

 frequently by sparrows or j uncos, watching for a chance to 

 get a meal. No doubt the bird also picks up a few mice, and 

 an occasional insect. Aiken shot one flying with a large field 

 mouse in its claws. One was seen in Monument Valley Park 

 one November day tormenting a Magpie much as a Kingbird 

 would. The Magpie was perched in a tree and the Shrike 

 would fly at it and make it move to .another place, and re- 

 peated these tactics until "Maggie" got disgusted and went 

 away altogether. This Shrike was about the park from October 

 20 until November 17, 1912. A male was seen singing in the 

 park November 1, 1913. 



At Ramah, in March, 1899, Aiken saw this Shrike carry 

 away a Horned Lark which he had just shot and killed. The 

 Shrike pounced upon the lark and seized it by each shoulder 

 with its feet, and then rose into the air and flew off with it 

 against an exceedingly strong wind, the lark being held so 

 that its wings were outspread beneath the body of its captor, 

 thus helping to lift or support itself in the air. 



Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides. White-rumped Shrike. 



« 

 Summer resident; common. Rather irregular in arrival 



in spring, from March 30 to May 1, probably most of them 



come from the middle to the latter part of April. Most of them 



have left by October first, but a few linger somewhat later. 



Mostly a bird of the plains and foothills, but at times 

 ranges high in the mountains. Aiken once noted it above 

 timberline at the head of Tennessee Gulch, Lake County. 



