A slightly smaller shrike than our Northern Shrike but found in similar habitat. Despite their main diet consisting of large insects and small birds, mammals and lizards, the shrikes are still a species of songbirds like a warbler or a sparrow. Prey is often impaled on a sharp twig or barbed wire to aid in feeding (see video below). Loggerhead Shrikes occur mostly to the south of the checklist area with a breeding population in the Prairies. Declining across its range. Only five records currently exist for the checklist area. There are limited records throughout British Columbia however, and this species is mostlikely to be encountered in B.C. in the spring and early summer months.

Similar species:
With this species having only one other species in its family, the idenfitication challenge lies with the much more common Northern Shrike. To tell a Loggerhead Shrike from a Northern Shrike, there are several fieldmarks to look for. While a Loggerhead is smaller and more stocky looking, size can sometimes be misleading. The head and back is a darker grey on a Loggerhead than on a Northern but this can be subjective given lighting conditions. Key fieldmarks on a Loggerhead are a wider black mask with no white under the eye or on the lores. The bill on a Loggerhead is shorter and, on an adult bird, completely black. A Northern's bill is longer and can have a pale base on the lower mandible. Streaking on the breast is often more pronounced on Northern Shrikes but this can be absent or appear to be absent on birds viewed at a distance. Finally, a Loggerhead Shrike's throat is quite white and contrasts well with the grey neck/back and dusky breast feathers. See the photos below for further detail.

Sources:
Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, (1988)
Pyle, P. 1997
Sibley, D. 2000

Back to Species List
Back to Top
Back to Home