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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Loggerhead Shrike
(Lanius ludovicianus) Y |
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RANGE: Breeds from central Alberta, central
Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, Minnesota, central Wisconsin,
central Michigan, and southeastern Ontario, south to Mexico and
the Gulf Coast. Very rare or absent from most of the
Appalachians, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. Winters
in the southern half of the United States and in Mexico.
STATUS: On the 1982 Blue List for declining species as a species
of concern (mostly in the East); common in parts of the West.
HABITAT: Inhabits open country with scattered shrubs or small
trees such as shelterbelts, cemeteries, farmsteads, or hedgerows
in the plains country and Midwest. In the West, breeds in
savannah, pine-oak woodlands, and chapparal types, and prefers
very open stands. Strongest nesting habitat associations
in (1) Sagebrush steppe, (2) Salt desert scrub shrubland, (3)
Big sagebrush shrubland, and (4) Seasonally wet playa.
NEST: Builds a bulky, cup-shaped nest in a variety of shrubs and
low, dense trees, rarely less than 3 feet or more than 25 feet
above the ground. Hides the nest well below the crown of the
bush or tree.
FOOD: Sometimes hawks for aerial insects, but takes most of its
prey as it dives to the ground from an elevated perch. In the
West, eats about 83 percent insects; in the East, 68 percent.
Eats mostly grasshoppers and crickets, but also a variety of
other insects, small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Beal and McAtee 1912, Eckert in
Farrand 1983c, Johnsgard 1979, Kridelbaugh 1983, Miller 1931,
Miller 1999, Morrison 1981, Porter et al. 1975, Shunk 2004, Tate
and Tate 1982. |
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