Mention predatory birds and most people think of hawks, owls, falcons and eagles. Few would include shrikes on that list but these robin-sized hunters are known for their aggressive nature. Identified by their black mask, hooked bill and mockingbird coloration, the shrike is usually found alone, surveying open country from a fencepost or tall sapling.
Loggerhead shrikes breed throughout the U.S. and parts of southern Canada, wintering across the southern half of our country; their slightly larger cousin, the northern shrike, breeds in boreal woodlands of Canada and Alaska, moving southward into the northern U.S. during the winter months. Both species favor open grasslands with scattered trees, where they hunt for mice, shrews, small snakes and songbirds; loggerheads may also be found in desert regions and often consume large insects (especially grasshoppers) during the warmer months.
Regardless of their prey, shrikes have a habit of impaling their victim on barbed wire, thorns or sharp edges of bark; this practice, which led to the nickname of butcher bird, is likely a compensation for their lack of talons, allowing these hunters to tear away flesh with their beaks. On the other hand, they often leave remnants of the prey on these hooks, returning to feed at a later time. When not hunting, shrikes perch at the top of a tree, delivering a repetitioius mix of warbles, trills and harsh, musical riffs.
