Shrikes have a hooked beak that enables them to catch small animals and insects. They often impale their meals on thorns which explains the derivation of their name from the Latin word for butcher. They sit upright on the tops of shrubs and other conspicuous perches to spot their prey and also to advertise their presence to competitors. Their coloring is drab. Most shrikes are located in Africa, Europe, and Asia. They are closely related to the bush-shrikes and helmet-shrikes, but not to the cuckoo-shrikes. The live in relatively open spaces.
Shrike, Loggerhead Lanius ludovicianus Found: North America
Similar to: Northern Shrike. The Loggerhead Shrike has a wider eye band than does the Northern Shrike.
Shrike, Northern aka Great Grey Shrike aka Northern Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Similar to: Loggerhead Shrike. The Loggerhead Shrike has a wider eye band than does the Northern Shrike.
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