Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Loggerhead Shrike

The only endemic shrike of North America, this handsome songbird has a secret.  Known in a few circles as the "Butcherbird, " it spears its prey on chain link fences, thorny trees, and shrubs to save them for a later meal.  However, this is not always the case, as shrunken corpses of previous hunts can be located around its favorite perches.

Fond of small songbirds, lizards, amphibians, and mammals, spearing dinner is helpful, because the bird of raptor tendencies has very weak talons, and that is the only way to "hold" its prey.  A desperate bird will go for House Sparrows and warblers, but they tend to prefer grasshoppers.  In the winter, mice are of preference, as well as vegetable matter, which is not hard to obtain in the south.  Its eyesight is quite good and it can find insect victims at an unusual distance.  It will sit still on a fence, high- or guidewire, or elevated branch, then dart out like a hawk, which lends to the common term of "hawking" for food.

                                             Loggerhead Shrike 04-15-15 in Stillwater, OK

Also known as the "French Mockingbird," since it is often confused with the Northern Mockingbird, our black, gray, and white champion builds its nest at medium elevations, which was observed by myself in Texas.  These birds like twiggy growth, which is easily seen before trees are leafed out in April right around normal songbird migration.  The nests are thick, woven twigs and lined with a softer bed of grass, fine roots, weeds, grass, feathers, etc.

                                                    Loggerhead Shrike in Texas 04-30-15
                                                                    Anahuac NWR

If observed for any length of time, the Loggerhead Shrike really does not resemble the mockingbird in the least.  The shrike has a larger head, a thicker body, a black stripe covering the eyes like a mask, and the gray is much lighter.  From the description of the bird's general impression, shape and size or GISS, it behaves in quite a different manner and there is no wing flash, which the mockingbird is famous for.

If one is lucky enough to hear the call, it is rather grating, and some have actually heard a melodious song.  It appears to be uncommon and declining in open pastures with scattered bushes, trees and hedges.  It once was a regular in central Oklahoma, where it was observed quite frequently in winter sallying for mice and insects.