As I sit watching the Olympic marathon with the thunder ringing out and the rain bucketing down here in the West Country, I am taking the opportunity to get my images sorted for a talk entitled "Birding Opportunities in Southern Florida". I am very familiar with Florida and the birdlife there, visiting as I do annually (well almost). There are several species that are guaranteed and you encounter them on a daily basis without even looking really. One of these is the Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus. They appear to be territorial and I have seen them in a variety of habitats. Typically, any reasonably quiet area will hold a Shrike, usually inland several miles, I can't remember seeing them near the coast. Favourite areas can be wasteland areas near to parking lots and industrial units, the unkempt undergrowth in places like this contains small reptiles and large insects which is the birds favourite prey. This can be very useful because the car can make a good hide to watch them from. I have also found them on the edges of sports fields where they perch on high fences and wires looking out for food and also on grass verges at places like wildlife refuges which is where this one was taken.
In common with all shrike species, they have a pretty effective sharp pointed beak, ideal for ripping and tearing lizards and small snakes which is their modus operandi. The equivelent species in Europe is the Great Grey Shrike to which they are very closely related and share the same scientific name Lanius which is latin for Butcher.
Recent Comments