Loggerhead Shrike

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).

Great Grey Shrike

Scientific Name: Lanius excubitor

Population Estimate: 1M to 10M

Range / Habitat: Solitary, predatory bird on prominent perches. Found year-round in southern Alaska. Summers north and east in the subarctic. Winters extending down into Canada and the northern US.

Field Notes: Noticeably long tail, thin black mask, hooked bill. Loggerhead Shrike has a more southerly range and is smaller with larger mask and all black bill. Northern Mockingbird also is more southerly in range with thin dark eye stripe, no mask.

Personal Notes: Also known as the Northern Shrike. Only a winter visitor to Minnesota. Can hover when hunting.