Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Also known as:Butcher Bird

Explore this bird

Identification

23 cm (9") Semi-open country, brushy swamps.

Told from very similar Northern Shrike by a wider face mask; it extends above the eye and is black above the bill.

Known as "butcher bird" for unusual habit of impaling its food on sharp thorns, twigs, barb wire.

Song: Shrikes and shrieks, slow harsh deliberate calls and trills, a melodious warbled song.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Jerry Downs

Watch and learn

2 videos

Loggerhead Shrike

Credit: Don DesJardin

Loggerhead Shrike - (Lanius ludovicianus)

Credit: Mark Vance

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Pointed or wedge-shaped · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:732-loggerhead-shrike:1:1 Source: 732 Loggerhead Shrike, row 1

Rule 2 5 criteria confidence 1

Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How did the bird fly ?: Swooping flight up to a perch
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland

result:732-loggerhead-shrike:2:1 Source: 732 Loggerhead Shrike, row 2