Loggerhead Shrike by CavalierLady

Photography • Animals • posted on Dec 13, 2015

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Description

Loggerhead Shrikes are unique songbirds in that they act more like raptors. They impale the small insects, amphibians and birds that they catch on thorns to hold them firmly while they consume their prey. I once watched a Shrike consume one of my small yard chickadees skewered on a branch in a bush outside my window. This shot was taken while driving down the road the other day and shot out of the window of my truck. Thanks very much for your views and comments.

Comments (21)

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anahata.c

10:40AM | Sun, 13 December 2015

yes, in human terms they're pretty cruel. But of course they're birds, so it's just part of life. The loggerhead shrike songs are quite distinct---as you must know, with all your knowledge of the bird kingdom. I remember the low trill followed by a shrill shriek (t-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r cheeep!) and then a lot of fast warbles. Many birds have amazing vocal chords, and can do all kinds of quick warbles that would be nigh impossible for humans. (I studied bird song as part of my musical training, years back, and we actually wrote out their songs in musical notation. It was just fascinating...)

Boy, you shot this out of a moving truck! Beautiful capture, Maria. They have a dignity in the way they stand atop those branches. And your composition/crop is wonderful too, with one higher than the other, and both looking forward. And all that sky. Beautiful work, even from a moving truck. With those spindly branches, it almost feels Japanese...You're so good at this, you can even get beautiful shots from a moving truck. The light on them is beautiful too...

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