392 
SHRIKES 
021. Lanius borealis Vieill. Northern Shrike. 
Adults in summer. — Wide streak on side of head, and wings and tail 
black, wings and tail extensively marked with white ; under parts white, 
barred or undulated with grayish; upper parts pale ash gray becoming 
whitish on forehead, superciliary, and rump; lores black and grayish, 
a whitish spot on lower eyelid. Adults in winter: similar, but basal half 
of lower mandible light brownish horn color, grayish in life, and lores 
From Biological Survey, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 
Fig. 483. 
chiefly light grayish or whitish. Young: largely washed with brownish. 
Length: 9.25-10.75, wing 4.35-4,60, tail 4.50-4.70, bill from nostril .50-.55. 
Distribution. — Breeds from Labrador, Hudson Bay, and Cook Inlet, 
Alaska, northward; migrates south in winter as far as Virginia, Kansas, 
Arizona, and northern California. 
Nest. — In bushes or thorny’ trees, a rude, bulky structure of twigs, 
grasses, and stems, lined with mosses, lichens, and feathers. Eggs: 4 to 
6, pale bluish green, spotted with brown and purple. 
Food. — In winter, mice, English sparrows, grasshoppers, and other 
birds and insects. 
The northern shrikes reach Colorado in October, Prof. Cooke 
says, first appearing on the mountains above timberline. Some of 
them winter as high as 9500 feet in the mountain parks, but most 
of them work their way down to the plains, where they find abun¬ 
dant food in the shape of horned larks. In other regions they are 
often tempted to visit cities by the unfailing supply of English 
sparrows, for in habits they are miniature birds of prey. 
622a. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (Swains.). White- 
rumped Shrike. 
Adults. — Bill, lores , and nasal tufts wholly black; upper parts light slate 
gray ; upper tail coverts whitish ; 
under parts pure white, very lightly, 
if at all, marked. Young : like adults, 
but base of lower mandible light- 
Fig. 484. colored, general colors less strongly 
