Northern Shrike

Northern Shrike, Immature, 1st winter; Long Lake NWR, ND; February

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A predatory songbird, the Northern Shrike breeds in taiga and tundra and winters in southern Canada and the northern United States. It feeds on small birds, mammals, and insects, sometimes impaling them on spines or barbed wire fences.

Description

• Medium-sized songbird.
• Gray back.
• Whitish throat and chest.
• Black mask.
• Large head.
• Medium-long tail.
• Stout bill with hook at end.
• Wings black with white patch.
• Tail black with white outer feathers.

• Size: 23-24 cm (9-9 in)
• Wingspan: 30-35 cm (12-14 in)
• Weight: 56-79 g (1.98-2.79 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but female may have slightly duller black wings and more muted gray upperparts.

Sound

Song is a complex and variable sequence of harsh notes, chatter, trills, and whistles. Calls include a rapid rasping "aak?aak" and a sharp metallic "beek."

Conservation Status

Population trends are difficult to assess because of the Northern Shrike's rarity and remoteness of its breeding habitat. Large areas of suitable breeding habitat in Alaska and northern Canada are protected.

Other Names

Pie-grièche grise (French)
Great Grey Shrike (British) (English)

Cool Facts

• The Northern Shrike, like other shrikes, kills more prey, if it can, than it can immediately eat or feed to nestlings. Such behavior was characterized by early observers as "wanton killing," but the Northern Shrike stores excess prey to eat later. Storing food is an adaptation for surviving periods of food scarcity.
• The Latin species name of the Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor, means "Butcher watchman."

• The nest of the Northern Shrike is an open cup, but it is so deep that while incubating, the female is completely out of view except for the tip of her tail.

• Both male and female Northern Shrikes sing throughout year. The male sings especially in late winter and early spring.

Sources used to construct this page:

Cade, T. J., and E. C. Atkinson. 2002. Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor). In The Birds of North America, No. 671 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.