northern shrike (Lanius excubitor)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 8 inches

• Heavy, hooked bill with a pale base to lower mandible

• Black cheeks

• Pale gray head and back

• White underparts with faint gray barring

• Black wings with white wing patches

• Black tail with white outer tail feathers

• Juveniles and immatures are browner and duller

Similar species:

The northern shrike is very similar to the Loggerhead Shrike but is larger
with a black mask that does not extend across the top of the bill, pale base
to the lower mandible, a paler gray overall color and faintly barred under-
parts. Immatures are browner than immature loggerheads. Northern mock-

ingbirds are similarly-sized and colored but have slimmer bills and lack a

black mask.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat:N/A
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size:5-7
Length of Incubation: 15-16(?) days
Days to Fledge:20
Number of Broods:?
Diet: Almost exclusively insects, small mammals, and birds

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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