Loggerhead Shrike

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image along Blackpoint Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island NWR, Merritt Island, Florida. This shrike is also know as the Butcher Bird from the habit of impaling it's prey on barbed wire or thorns to secure the prey while it feeds. During mating season it decorates the prey with feathers to attract a female.


Nikon D7000
Nikon 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF shot at 300mm (450mm FFE)
1/1250 F/11 ISO 640 -1/3 EV

[Colin Driscoll]

Interesting bird, we have Butcher Birds in Australia that also hang their prey to strip it, generally in a forked branch, but they don't decorate it to get mates. The shot is a bit up and under and slightly oversharpened judging by the white fringe under the beak.

[Marina Scarr]

Thanks for the info, Joe. I think you presented a nice image here. Nice angle and good details and exposure. The vegetation adds a lot.