Northern Shrike
A winter predatory songbird of open brushy country that may hunt near feeders; it should be observed, never attracted with food or birds.
By Birdly Yard Editorial TeamReviewed Updated
Local season
Months with a state-level historical signal for this species.
Status
Backyard reports
Look for it
Look on exposed shrubs, wires, hedgerows, pasture edges, sagebrush, burns, clearcuts, and wetland forest edges in winter.
Food
Small birds, mammals, and insects; it may cache prey on thorns or barbed wire.
Nesting
Natural nesting guidance
Northern Shrike habitat
Maintain diverse native brush outside the immediate feeding area and allow winter observation from a respectful distance.
Northern Shrike diet and food
Small birds, mammals, and insects; it may cache prey on thorns or barbed wire.
Do not feed or bait a shrike, and do not create an exposed feeder station to bring it close to songbirds.
Northern Shrike nesting and breeding
Breeds in remote northern partly open boreal cover in deep cup nests; no residential nest-box plan is appropriate.
Northern Shrike behavior and where to look
A stealthy ambush hunter that watches from a perch, dives on prey, and sometimes impales surplus prey for storage.
Photography
Use a long lens from a public roadside or trail; never approach a perch, cache, or suspected nest area.
What to avoid
Never bait, play calls, or keep a concentrated feeder near a hunting shrike.
Continue exploring
Explore related bird guides
Compare food, habitat and nesting. Local seasonal records vary by species.
