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Features:
9” This bird is rather big-headed, with a slim tail, and is
black, white, and gray with a black mask. Its size is a bit smaller
than the American Robin. Shrikes are found sitting quietly on bush
tops and wires. When they take off they flicker, showing white patches,
and will swoop upward towards a new perch. It can be confused with
the Northern Shrike, which has a thicker white line going through
the eye, and a lower beak that is not entirely black. It can also
be confused with the Northern Mockingbird which has a longer tail,
larger wing patches, and does not have a mask.
Voice: harsh notes
and phrases repeated 3-20 times; queedle, queedle, over and over,
or upsurpsee-upsurp-see, or shack, shack.
Habitat: open country,
wires, and shrubs.
Feathers:
1, 2. P: 2 7/8 in
3. S: 2 3/8 in
4 partial wing (Ps, Ss, Terts.): 3 3/8 in
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Feeding:Below:
Shrikes impale beetles and other prey on such vegetation as hawthorn
trees.
Pellets:
Below: 5/16 in - 1/2 in W x 3/4 - 1 9/16 in L
(Note the difference in size of pellets composed of fur and those
of insect residue)
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