Scientific Name: Lanius ludovicianus
Population Estimate: 4.2M, Least Concern status
Range / Habitat: Year-round throughout the southern and western US, down into Mexico. Summers extending north into Canada. Preferred habitat is semi-open areas with access to dense trees and shrub.
Field Notes: Smallish solitary predator with grey head and back. Black mask and thick, hooked bill. Wings black with white patches. Long tail. Great Grey Shrike is larger with thinner face mask and pale lower bill, though its range is more northerly and rarely overlaps. Northern Mockingbird has small black eye stripe, no mask.
Personal Notes: This bird was a great sight, perched at the ruins of Teotihuacan north of Mexico City (not the above photo, by the way).
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