Chapter V: Part TWO: Bird Biographies (3)

Notes: A call-note and a sweet song.

Habitat: Fields or roadsides where it can find insects, small rodents,
and little birds for its prey.

Range: Northern North America. Breeds from northwestern Alaska and
northern Canada to the base of the Alaskan Peninsula, Saskatchewan,
Ontario, and Quebec; winters south to central California, Arizona,
New Mexico, Texas, Kentucky, and Virginia.

The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, a resident of the Southern States, is similar to
the Northern Shrike but smaller. It is found from southern Florida
to North Carolina and west to Louisiana. Northward this species is
represented by the MIGRANT SHRIKE, nesting locally from Virginia and
eastern Kansas to the southern border of Canada.

Shrikes or Butcher-Birds are attractive to look at, but have a habit which renders them extremely unpopular. They pursue small rodents and little birds and impale them upon sharp twigs, thorns, or barbed wire fences. In excuse for these cruel acts, it must be said that they have not strong, sharp talons like hawks and owls; in order to tear their prey to pieces, there must be a way of holding it firmly.[47] One agrees with Mr. Forbush, however, in his estimate of the habit. He says:

"The Shrike or Butcher-Bird is regarded as beneficial; but our winter visitor, the Northern Shrike, kills many small birds. It pursues Tree Sparrows, Juncos, Song Sparrows, and Chickadees, overtakes and strikes them while they are in flight, sometimes eating them, but oftener leaving them to hang on trees, where they furnish food for other birds. When one sees the little Butcher killing Chickadees and hanging them up, his faith in its usefulness receives a great shock. Shrikes are probably of less value here than in their northern homes, where in summer they feed much on insects. Their chief utility while here [in Massachusetts] consists in their mouse-hunting proclivities."[47]

Their habit of killing English sparrows and thus getting rid of a nuisance has been commended. Shrikes are likewise destroyers of grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and other insects.

"Like birds of prey and some other birds, the Butcher-Bird habitually disgorges the indigestible part of its food after digesting the nutritive portion. The bones and hair of mice are rolled into compact pellets in the stomach before being disgorged."[48]

DESCRIPTIONS AND BIOGRAPHIES
OF
OUR EARLY SPRING BIRDS