340 
PASSERIFORMES 
The Northern Shrike is the bolder and more energetic of our two species. 
It is a northern breeder and is seen only in cultivated sections in the winter 
where it follows the flocks of Snow Buntings, redpolls, etc. It has shown 
some tendency to come into cities and villages in pursuit of the English 
Sparrow, in which work it is to be encouraged in every way. Dry, 
mummied mice and birds occasionally found pinned to thorns and barbs 
of wire fences or hanging from the close forks of twigs are usually the 
remains of victims of this species. Rather surprisingly, it exhibits con- 
siderable musical ability even in winter. 
Economic Status. Though thoroughly raptorial in habit the Northern 
Shrike cannot be said to do a great amount of damage. It is not common 
enough within settlement to be a serious factor in the small bird life of the 
fields. It catches numbers of mice and probably its attacks on them and 
on the English Sparrow compensate for the seed-eating birds it takes. 
622. Common Shrike. butcher-bird, loggerhead shrike, la pie-grieche 
commune. Lanius ludovicianus. L, 9. Plate LXI B. Somewhat larger than a sparrow, 
smaller than a Robin. Crown and back soft, even, light slate-grey, lightening on rump 
sometimes to white. Wings and tail black; the former with white bar across base of 
primaries and tips of secondaries; the latter with outer feathers largely white from the tip. 
All below white. A conspicuous broad, black bar through eye and along cheek. Sexes 
alike. 
Distinctions. The coloration of grey back, black and white wings and tail, black face 
bar, and white below, is distinctive for the shrikes. Separable from the Northern Shrike 
by smaller size (wing under 4-25) and the lack of distinct dark vermiculations across 
underparts. Juveniles and extreme western birds may have a faint vermiculation on 
breast and flanks, but it is soft and undecided, and not strong and distinct. 
Field Marks. Grey back, white below, black and white wings and tail, and black 
bar across face are distinctive of Shrikes. Small size and summer occurrences in southern 
Canada are the best recognition marks for the species. 
Nesting. Nest of strips of bark, small twigs, vegetable fibres, lined with felted wool 
and feathers, in bushes or small trees, usually in those of thorny nature. 
Distribution. North America. In Canada, throughout the southern parts; rare 
in southern British Columbia. 
SUBSPECIES. A number of subspecies of this bird are recognized. The eastern 
Canadian form is the Migrant Shrike (la Pie-grieche migratrice) Lanius ludovicianus 
migrans. It extends west probably to the eastern bluffy parts of Manitoba, though it is 
separated from the next form by such slight and variable characters that the geographical 
boundary between them is rather uncertain. Over the prairies westward is the White- 
rumped Shrike (la Pie-grieche & croupion blanc) Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides that 
extends to the mountains. It is very slightly paler grey, with whiter rump and more white 
on tips of scapulars. In southern British Columbia, the California Shrike (la Pie-grieche 
de la Californie) Lanius ludovicianus gambeli occurs as a straggler. It has a back like the 
Migrant, a rump like the White-rumped, but is slightly browner than either and has sug- 
gestions of vermiculations on chest and sides of breast in the adult as well as the juvenile. 
The Common Shrike is a bird of open, brushy pastures and hillsides. 
Thornapple or similar thorny trees, cropped and trimmed by cattle until 
dense and repellent, are its favourite nesting sites, and in such neighbour- 
hoods it may be seen, usually on a commanding perch, such as the tip of a 
dead sapling, or a telegraph wire, keenly regarding the surrounding country. 
The impaling of prey is not quite so strongly developed a habit in this 
species as in the previous one, probably because it eats more insects and 
can handle much of its smaller prey without so doing. At any rate evidence 
in the form of remains stuck on thorns is somewhat rare in haunts of the 
species and where they would be expected to be plentiful. The song 
of the Common Shrike is quite musical and pleasing, but the call-notes 
are harsh and discordant. 
