Thursday 2 January 2020

Northern Shrike

Northern Shrike
Lanius excubitor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Family Laniidae
 
They prey upon : insects, small mammals, and birds.
Usually catches birds on the wing.
 
This Shrike was unusual in that it just sat on the branch while four Chickadees harassed it. In fact it only yawned at the culprits.
The usual happenings when the Shrike is around is : birds freeze in position ; those birds close to cover disappear for up to an hour.
On this day, Tuesday, every bird continued feeding except for the four chickadees that popped from branch to branch flipping their tails , sometimes as close as a foot away from it.

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