The Loggerhead Shrike {Lanius Ludovidanus) 



By W. Leon Dawson 



Description. — Adult: Dark bluish-gray above ; rump just perceptibly lighter; 

 lower scapulars tipped with black; wings black, a small white spot at base of 

 primaries ; the inner quills narrowly tipped with white ; tail black, the outer pair 

 of feathers broadly tipped with white, and the succeeding pairs less so or not 

 Dt all; below grayish-white, sordid on breast, but everywhere strongly contrasting 

 with upper parts ; narrow frontal line, including nasal tufts, lores and ear-coverts, 

 black — continuous, and passing mostly below eye; bill and feet black. Immature: 

 Colors of adult less strongly contrasted ; lower parts washed with brownish ; loral 

 bar obscure; more or less vermiculated with dusky all over (in younger birds), 

 or upon the under parts alone ; ends of wing-quills, coverts and tail-feathers often 

 with ochraceous or rusty markings. Length, 9.00 (228.6) ; wing, 3.78 (96.) ; 

 tail, 3.70 (94.) ; bill, .61 (15.5). The description is from a typical South Carolina 

 bird in the O. S. U. collection. Ohio birds, even when clearly referable to this 

 form, average much lighter and somewhat larger. 



Recognition INIarks. — Chewink to Robin size ; dark gray above ; whitish 

 below ; black patch on head ; white spot on wing ; breast of adult unmarked, as 

 distinguished from L. horcalis; dark gray or ashy on rump, as distinguished from 

 L. I, cxcubitorides. 



Nest, a bulky, but well put together mass of sticks, thorn-twigs, weed-stalks 

 and the like, carefully lined with plant-down, wool or feathers, placed five to 

 fifteen feet high in orchard trees, thorn hedges, etc. Eggs, 3-6, sometimes 7, dull 

 grayish, or greenish white, thickly speckled and spotted with olive or red-dish- 

 brown. Av. size, .97 x .73 (24.6 x 18.5). 



Range. — Eastern United States, west to the Plains ; north to the Great Lakes, 

 northern New England, etc. Breeds throughout its range. 



In all but southern localities, where the species is partially resident, the 

 Shrike arrives about the middle of March. His patchy plumage harmonizes 

 more or less with the snow-checkered landscape, but he is nowise concerned 

 with problems of protective coloration. Seeking out some prominent perch, 

 usually at this time of year a fence-post, he divides his time between spying 

 upon the early-creeping field mice and entertaining his lady love with outlandish 

 music. Those who have not heard our resident Shrike sing have missed a treat. 

 He begins with a series of rasping sounds, which are probably intended to produce 

 the same receptive condition on his audience which Ole Bull secured by awkward- 

 ly breaking one string after another on his violin until only one was left. 

 There the resemblance ceases, how^ever, for where the virtuoso could extract a 

 melody of marvelous range and sweetness from his single string, the bird produces 

 the sole note of a struck anvil. This pours forth, however, in successive three- 

 syllabled phrases like the metallic and reiterative clink of a free-falling hammer. 

 The chief difference which appears between this love song and the ordinary call 



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