Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Marek on January 26, 2007, 10:03:31 PM

Title: Shrike
Post by: Marek on January 26, 2007, 10:03:31 PM

I wasn't sure what kind of bird it is. Only today it occured to me that this can be Shrike. Loggerhead or Northern? I have no idea.
http://mareknaturephoto.com/Gallery/January/Shrike2 (http://mareknaturephoto.com/Gallery/January/Shrike2)
http://mareknaturephoto.com/Gallery/January/Shrike (http://mareknaturephoto.com/Gallery/January/Shrike)
Am I right?

Title:
Post by: Kin Lau on January 26, 2007, 10:54:54 PM

Northern Shrike.

The Loggerhead shrike has long since gone south and also has a broader mask.

Title:
Post by: norman on January 27, 2007, 09:58:56 PM

Yes, any surviving loggerheads are currently sitting on hydro lines in Florida, or just 'hanging out' in warmer climes ... still, a Northern shrike in the city is always worth a peek -- where's it lurking?

Listen for a maevolent thrasher-like chorus, if it's holding territory.

My Aunt -- and she's doing well, honestly -- still breaks into a shrieking "Mockingbird! Mockingbird! Mockingbird!" outburst whenever we spot  a shrike (or a fire hydrant, among other sights), and it just brings back the early wonder of chasing birds around when I was a lot younger, and following mysterious songs to their conclusion. You never forget a tune when it takes you almost three hours to find the vocalist ...

Any Mocker locations posted would be appreciated -- my most reliable guy had 3/4 of his habitat destroyed last September.  I'm still looking, but I think he's rather offended, and has moved on.

--NB