The Loggerhead Shrike is a gray and white bird that resembles a Mockingbird at first glance.  Both are types of songbirds with a similar overall gray, black and white pattern and are about the size of a cardinal or robin.  The shrike has blacker wings, a larger head, a black mask, and a heavy, hooked bill, unlike mockingbirds that have grayer wings, a smaller head and a thinner bill.  The Loggerhead Shrike’s black mask acts like the black paint athletes wear to keep the sun's glare from impeding eyesight. 

Where they truly stand out is in their unique hunting techniques.  The shrike, a carnivorous bird, has a preference for lizards, bugs, and small animals, unlike the seeds and berries that mockingbirds enjoy.  Their hunting style is both fascinating and terrifying for their prey.  Shrikes hunt from above, diving down to snatch their prey in their hooked bill.  The upper part of the shrike's hooked bill features a pair of built-in projections called 'tomial teeth.' These specialized 'teeth' are used to dispatch rodents by striking the nape of the neck, instantly paralyzing them, and then shaking them with enough force to break their necks. They are quick and efficient hunters, earning them the nickname 'butcherbirds.  ' Their genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word 'butcher.' Shrikes can also hover over prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

These remarkably intelligent birds then impale their prey on barbed wire, thorns, tree branches, or other sharp objects to immobilize and kill it, if their beak hasn't already done the job.  This practice, akin to a human's pantry or larder, also helps them store food for days if food is scarce.  A large pantry can serve to attract mates or feed juveniles.  This practice can also help remove toxins, making the prey safe to eat after a few days.  For instance, impaling a toxic monarch butterfly helps break down toxins, making it safe to eat after a few days.   

Another reason for their macabre tendency to impale their prey is due to their tiny feet and legs. Their beak and hunting abilities are similar to hawks and falcons, but their passerine feet are similar to songbirds and can only perch on branches instead of using them like hawks and falcons to rip and tear.  The barbed wire and sticks hold the prey in place so the shrike can eat it.  Don't judge their feet too quickly, though; shrikes have been known to carry prey the same size as themselves. 

Loggerhead Shrikes are typically found in open areas with scattered shrubs and trees, but the species can also be found in more heavily wooded habitats with large openings and very short habitats with few or no trees.  They particularly like tree snags (dead trees), where they can perch high up to look for prey. 

These vicious, intelligent, ruthless birds are amazing animals in our area.  Next time you see a gray and white bird, look closely and see if it might be nature's butcherbird.