Northern Shrike

Lanius excubitor

Also known as:Great Gray Shrike, Butcher Bird

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

23-25 cm (9-10") Semi-open country, brushy swamps. Known as "butcher bird" for its unusual habit of impaling food on sharp thorns, twigs, barb wire.

Black mask. Bill is stout and hooked. Told from very similar Loggerhead Shrike by its more narrow face mask; it does not extend above its eye and it is white above the bill.

Song: shrikes or shrieks, shrill cries and rattles, also a melodious song.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Fairview, Pennsylvania, US - January 12, 2013

Credit: Dave Inman

Steveston Waterfront, Richmond, BC, CA - October 29, 2011

Credit: Robin Horn

Perched up just south of Hellcat on the Parker River NWR - November 29, 2010

Credit: nebirdsplus

Voskresensky, Moskovskaya Oblast, RU. - October 29, 2006

Credit: Sergey Yeliseev

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

2011 11 19 Northern Shrike and Chickadee

Credit: AK Spotmom

Northern Shrike - Broemmelsiek Park

Credit: Chrissy & Andy

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.

Northern Shrike

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:731-northern-shrike:1:1 Source: 731 Northern 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:731-northern-shrike:2:1 Source: 731 Northern Shrike, row 2