Loggerhead shrike COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 3

Species Information

 

Name and classification
English name Loggerhead Shrike excubitorides subspecies (Prairie Loggerhead Shrike)
French name Pie-grièche migratrice de la sous-espèce excubitorides
Scientific name Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (Swainson)

 

Description

The Prairie Loggerhead Shrike is a medium-sized passerine, approximately 21 cm in length. Adults are boldly coloured with a blend of black, white and gray, and are particularly conspicuous in flight. The best field mark is the black facial mask, which completely covers the eye (in the similar Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor, the black facial mask does not extend above the eye). The bill is black with a hook at the tip of the upper mandible. Sexes are similar in appearance, but males are slightly larger with darker primary feathers. Juvenile shrikes are brownish overall, with light greyish barring on the chest and belly. 

Shrikes are well known for their habit of impaling prey items on thorns.

 

Nationally significant populations

Not applicable.

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