Sunday, January 9, 2011

A Northern Shrike!

I was walking my dog this morning along the West River Trail in Brattleboro when I spotted a bird perched high up on the top branch of a tree, motionless, except for occasionally turning his head, watchful .... A Northern Shrike! .. I hurried back to my car to get the camera. When I got back it had not moved and allowed me to take many pictures until it finally flew off. It was a first winter bird to judge by the brownish/silvery scales on its chest.



Although from a distance the bird looks innocuous, it can turn into a fierce predator once it spots a small bird or mammal. Not undeservedly is it also known as Butcherbird
as it pins his prey on a thorn or barbed wire or wedges it between forked branches of a thicket for a leisurely meal, pulling it apart starting at the head.




The Northern Shrike is at home in the tundra and taiga regions of the northern Canada, occasionally moving south in the winter to southern Canada and adjacent North America, which means it's really uncommon here. Although one or two are usually reported every winter, the last time I saw one was three years ago. So this was a happy morning for me.

Good Birding!

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment.




17 comments:

  1. Wow, great sighting of the shrike! Wonderful photos, he was posing for you! They have been seeing one here in Maryland also.

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  2. Nice!! I haven't spotted one this winter. Last winter I witnessed a fly through kill!

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  3. Awesome shots, Hilke! Those are probably the BEST Noshrike shots I've ever seen. We have them here, but I have yet to see one, never mind get great pics. I'm envious!

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  4. Super sighting to say the least! You really got some great shots. Thanks for including the interesting info about this cool bird. (I would be a very happy camper to see one!)

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  5. Wonderful Hilke! - great sighting and photos.

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  6. How wonderful! I have seen the Loggerhead several times but not the northern.

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  7. Wow great sighting Hilke. It is nice to see a bird that we do not see so often! Nice also that he allowed for some pictures!

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  8. Beautifil bird,
    Thanks for posting!

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  9. Oh wow you got GREAT photos of this bird! I love how pretty they are despite their "butcherbird" habits!

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  10. Great shots Hilke. I have yet to see one. Boom & Gary.

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  11. Wow! What a catch! Would love to be able to photograph one of these...

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  12. Gorgeous bird. I've never heard of this bird before. Great images. Carol

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  13. nice spot! Glad he let you get some photos! I haven't had any luck photographing shrikes yet..they always flush when I'm so far away. Love this little guy!

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  14. Excellent find and images Hilke. Known as Great Grey Shrike over here and is a scarce winter visitor .. I still have this one to find for my January list!

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  15. Wonderful! I've never seen one of these.

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  16. Thank you all for your comments! Pure luck! Taught me to always be prepared, because I had left my camera in the car, not expecting to see any birds since it was sooo cold and quiet.

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