Loggerhead Shrike

By Charlie • January 23, 2007 • 2 comments

Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Panoche Valley, California. 10 January 2007

The only member of the shrike family endemic to North America, the Loggerhead Shrike breeds from southern Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, south to Mexico. It is declining in the north-east of its range, possibly (like many northern hemisphere shrikes) due to loss of suitable habitat and pesticide use.

This adult bird was photographed in the Panoche Valley, California and if anyone has information on whether birds here are resident and/or are augmented by winter visitors this far south I would be very interested to find out. The species is on the endangered species list in California and a subspecies, which lives only on San Clemente Island, in the Channel Islands in California, numbered just 44 individuals in 2001 (19 reared in wild nests and 25 released from a breeding programme) making it one of the rarest vertebrates in North America (for more info see ABC website: Protecting the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike from Extinction).

Incidentally, the name “Loggerhead” is supposedly derived from the fact that proportionately its head is large - though this makes no sense at all to me, unless ‘loggers’ have big heads? I’ll do some research…

loggerhead shrike

All photos copyright Charlie Moores

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About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

2 Responses to “Loggerhead Shrike”

Paulette Jul 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm

Beautiful shots! Thanks!
Heading out to the Channel Islands in August (08) … will look for an answer to your question: are they resident and/or are augmented by winter visitors this far south
Charlie Jul 26th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Hi Paulette. Please do - I’d be very interested to find out. Thanks!

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