Loggerhead Shrike

A black mask extends over the eye and across the face over the bill. There is no white stripe over the eye. The breast and underparts are faintly gray, not barred.

8″ to 10″in length

12″ wingspan

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is slimmer and has a slimmer bill. It does not have a black mask.

Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) is only seen in Minnesota in winter. The black mask is narrower and does not extend across the face over the bill. There is a white stripe over the eye. The breast and underparts are lightly barred.

Northern Shrikes and Loggerhead Shrikes are similar in appearance and difficult to distinguish from the distance at which they are usually seen. They are best identified by the time of year they are spotted. If a shrike is seen in Minnesota in the winter, it is almost certainly a Northern Shrike. If it is seen in the summer, it is definitely a Loggerhead Shrike.

Shortgrass prairies and abandoned agricultural fields with shrubs, small trees, fences, or other perching sites.

Early March to late April and August to late September

Mostly large insects but also small birds, rodents, shrews, amphibians, and reptiles.

Occasional to uncommon summer migrant, rare and local breeder, rare to absent in winter.

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Loggerhead Shrike
Allen Chartier

Loggerhead Shrike
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Loggerhead Shrike
JMC Nature Photos

World's Weirdest - Cute Bird Impales Its Prey
NatGeoWild

The Audubon Moment - The Loggerhead Shrike
The Audubon Moment

Loggerhead Shrike - (Lanius ludovicianus)
Mark Vance

Loggerhead Shrike impaled small snake on barbed wire
luluhachidori

Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus
Stoil Ivanov

Tera Olson
3/24/2023

Location: Elk River, Spikes store

appeared injured but we went back to find it later and could not locate it