Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
The Loggerhead Shrike, like all shrikes world-wide, are also known as Butcher Birds. And like all true shrikes, this bird is a small avian predator that hunts from perches and impales its prey on sharp objects such as thorns and barbed-wire fences. The term Loggerhead refers to the large size of the bird’s head relative to its body. Not all birds of prey kill with their feet. The powerful neck and bill of this bird give it the ability to take down prey as large as themselves, such as mice, bats and reptiles, though most of their diet comprises insects. The well-know practice of impaling their victims on spikes may merely be a method that allows them to tear off bite-sized pieces they can swallow.
Loggerhead Shrikes range over most of the USA, though their numbers are declining, especially in southern Canada and in the midwestern and eastern portions of their range in the USA. Across most of their range they remain year round, but some birds will migrate north in the summer, even into the Prairie Provinces of Canada, and some of their population will migrate slightly south to spend winters.
Science recognises seven subspecies of Loggerhead Shrike, and they are mainly distinguished by region, though bird-in-hand measurements can be used to separate them as well.
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
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Description: Antelope Island State Park, north of Salt Lake City, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:10 10:55 |
|
Location:
Antelope Island |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X0443-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Antelope Island State Park, north of Salt Lake City, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:11 7:44 |
|
Location:
Antelope Island |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1251-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Antelope Island State Park, north of Salt Lake City, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:11 7:46 |
|
Location:
Antelope Island |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1266-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Along the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, North-east of Canebrake Canyon. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:26 8:35 |
|
Location:
Anza-Borrego State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2723-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Little Blair Valley Road. Anza Borrego, Northeast San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:10 8:02 |
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Location:
Blair Valley |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD5178.LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: San Felipe Creek, North of Highway 78. Eastern San Diego County, Anza-Borrego Park, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:10 11:28 |
|
Location:
Scissors Crossing |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD5294.LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Anza-Borrego State Park. North-east San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2003:04:26 9:06 |
|
Location:
Plum Canyon |
|
Camera Information: |
File Name: A3D26A35.LoggerheadShrike |
| © 2003 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2004:12:21 11:38 |
|
Location:
Goose Loop |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/12.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_2009LoggerheadShrike |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Seen near Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:17 18:14 |
|
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerHeadShrike_D5X5590 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Seen near Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:17 18:06 |
|
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LoggerHeadShrike_D5X5578 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Seen near Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:17 18:06 |
|
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerHeadShrike_D5X5561 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Planet Ranch bosque on the eastern side of Bill Williams NWR in Arizona. North of Parker, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:25 14:31 |
|
Location:
Planet Ranch |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2358-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Along the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, North-east of Canebrake Canyon. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:26 8:37 |
|
Location:
Vallecito Valley |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X2747-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Along the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, North-east of Canebrake Canyon. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:26 8:36 |
|
Location:
Anza-Borrego State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2731-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 18:20 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727295-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Shrikes are fierce predators, and this one was looking for a meal. Precisely halfway between Albuquerque and Bosque del Apache is the state reserve at Ladd S. Gordon’s Bernardo Unit, where cranes and geese are now visiting more than at Bosque. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:19 12:21 |
|
Location:
Bernardo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X9978-Bernardo_Unit |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: This shrike flew in from behind me, barely over my shoulder. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 9:16 |
|
Location:
Pine Springs |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X4218-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: This shrike flew in from behind me, barely over my shoulder. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 9:16 |
|
Location:
Pine Springs |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X4231-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Vendel Road is also known as Unit #1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. It occupies the agricultural and marsh lands at the southern tip of the Salton Sea near Westmorland in Imperial County. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:28 12:52 |
|
Location:
Vendel Road |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X6025-VendelRoad-SaltonSea |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Antelope Island State Park, north of Salt Lake City, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:10 10:55 |
|
Location:
Antelope Island |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X0443-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Antelope Island State Park, north of Salt Lake City, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:11 7:44 |
|
Location:
Antelope Island |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1251-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Antelope Island State Park, north of Salt Lake City, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:11 7:46 |
|
Location:
Antelope Island |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1266-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Along the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, North-east of Canebrake Canyon. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:26 8:35 |
|
Location:
Anza-Borrego State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2723-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Little Blair Valley Road. Anza Borrego, Northeast San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:10 8:02 |
|
Location:
Blair Valley |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD5178.LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: San Felipe Creek, North of Highway 78. Eastern San Diego County, Anza-Borrego Park, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:10 11:28 |
|
Location:
Scissors Crossing |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD5294.LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Anza-Borrego State Park. North-east San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2003:04:26 9:06 |
|
Location:
Plum Canyon |
|
Camera Information: |
File Name: A3D26A35.LoggerheadShrike |
| © 2003 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2004:12:21 11:38 |
|
Location:
Goose Loop |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/12.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_2009LoggerheadShrike |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Seen near Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:17 18:14 |
|
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerHeadShrike_D5X5590 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Seen near Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:17 18:06 |
|
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LoggerHeadShrike_D5X5578 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Seen near Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:06:17 18:06 |
|
Location:
Cottonwood Spring |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerHeadShrike_D5X5561 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Planet Ranch bosque on the eastern side of Bill Williams NWR in Arizona. North of Parker, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:25 14:31 |
|
Location:
Planet Ranch |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2358-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Along the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, North-east of Canebrake Canyon. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:26 8:37 |
|
Location:
Vallecito Valley |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X2747-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Along the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, North-east of Canebrake Canyon. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:26 8:36 |
|
Location:
Anza-Borrego State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2731-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 18:20 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727295-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Shrikes are fierce predators, and this one was looking for a meal. Precisely halfway between Albuquerque and Bosque del Apache is the state reserve at Ladd S. Gordon’s Bernardo Unit, where cranes and geese are now visiting more than at Bosque. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:19 12:21 |
|
Location:
Bernardo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X9978-Bernardo_Unit |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: This shrike flew in from behind me, barely over my shoulder. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 9:16 |
|
Location:
Pine Springs |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X4218-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: This shrike flew in from behind me, barely over my shoulder. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 9:16 |
|
Location:
Pine Springs |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X4231-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
|
Description: Vendel Road is also known as Unit #1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. It occupies the agricultural and marsh lands at the southern tip of the Salton Sea near Westmorland in Imperial County. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:28 12:52 |
|
Location:
Vendel Road |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: LoggerheadShrike_D5X6025-VendelRoad-SaltonSea |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
