Alabama, ipi 3. 43 



THE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 



THE Great Northern Shrike, or Butcher-Bird, is a bird of very 

 striking personality. In appearance he is a high-headed, well- 

 dressed dandy. In disposition, he is today a fierce little bird of prey, 

 feeding solely upon flesh good ; but tomorrow he will change into a 

 modest insect-eater. It seems very odd to find a bird of prey 

 among the Perching-Birds. 



The Butcher-Bird is a bird of the North, breeding from Labra- 

 dor to Alaska and visiting the United States only in winter, when 

 it is almost impossible to obtain food at home. The species which 

 we find in the United States in summer is the Loggerhead Shrike, 

 which closely resembles its northern relative, both in form and 

 habits. 



In the field, you can easily recognize a Shrike by its bluish- 

 gray back, and large head. His strong, hooked beak has a notch, 

 or tooth, near the end of the upper mandible. He is deliberate and 

 dignified in movements, and like the true sportsman that he is, he 

 is happiest when hunting. He catches and feeds upon small frogs, 

 mice, small snakes and even birds (so it is said), and has the odd 

 trick of hanging up, impaled upon a thorn, dead game which he 

 cannot eat as soon as caught. Once I saw a Butcher-Bird seize 

 a large field-mouse out of a freshly up-turned furrow, and fly away 

 with it, struggling vigorously. The mammal was so large and 

 heavy it was surprising to see the bird bear it away. Many times 

 I have seen dried frogs hanging upon thorns, where they had been 

 placed while fresh, by Shrikes. 



Every Shrike is a feathered Jekyll and Hyde. In summer 

 and autumn, the harvest of insects is everything that could be 

 expected. 



