362 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Lanius ludovicianus migrans W. Palmer 



Migrant Shrike 



Plate 90 



Lanius ludovicianus migrans Palmer. Auk. July 1898. 15:248 



A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. p. 298. 

 No. 6226 



migrans, Lat., migrating, migratory 



Description. Similar to the Northern shrike in coloration, but a 

 darker gray on the upper part; the under parts plain grayish white, without 

 any cross bars ; smaller. Those who wish to distinguish this species from 

 the Loggerhead or the White-rumped shrike, may consult Palmer's descrip- 

 tion above referred to. 



Length 9.2 inches; extent 1 2.5-1 3; wing 4; tail about 4; bill .55; 

 tarsus I. 



Distribution, The Migrant shrike breeds in eastern America from 

 northern Minnesota, Michigan, southern Quebec, Maine and New Bruns- 

 wick, southward to eastern Kansas, southern Illinois and western Virginia; 

 winters from the Middle States to Mississippi and Texas. In New York 

 this species is found as a summer resident in nearly all portions of the 

 State except the Atlantic district, and may possibly breed occasionally 

 in the lower Hudson valley or even on Long Island, but definite records 

 to this effect are not yet before us. It is a fairly common breeder in 

 western and central New York, in the Black River valley, Mohawk valley, 

 and around the outskirts of the Adirondacks. The history of this species 

 in New York is rather interesting. DeKay and Giraud knew nothing 

 of it. The fact that DeKay speaks of the Northern shrike as breeding 

 in the interior of the State might indicate that he confused the Migrant 

 shrike with its northern relative, but similar statements of his regarding 

 Yellow-legs, Whistling swan and numerous other species, which were 

 reported on hearsay evidence, were undoubtedly errors, and his remarks 

 about the breeding of shrikes may also be in error. At any rate, this 

 species has become more numerous in the interior of New York State since 

 1869 when it was reported by Allen in the American Naturalist, page 579, 



