Some birding today.. We start out with two shots from Nancy Haun, a Northen Shrike that she says is back in town, trying to eat her birds. She added that “trouble is a Shrike!” These birds are also referred to as “butcher birds”. They prey on smaller birds, killing them and storing what they can’t eat for later. I wasn’t aware of their behavior. I sure hope they stay away from our bird feeders.

The next two photos are from Jean Dessellier who always has a menagerie of different critters, but today she shares a female Downy Woodpecker and a Chickadee. She got in close and personal on those two shots, so you can see the detail of their feathers and a morsel of the suet ready in the Chickadee’s beak.

Since I didn’t know much about the Shrike myself, I found a video to watch one as it’s busily flying back and forth with morsels of liver that the photographer put out for it to eat. Take note of the point or barb at the end of it’s beak to help it tear apart the meat or it’s prey.

Shrikes, while beautiful, are awful little birds. You have the Northern variety in Michigan which are relatively mild compared to the Loggerheads we have in Texas. Because of their smaller size, Loggerheads will spear the neck or head of their prey, then twist rapidly to snap the vertebrae. If that doesn't work, they will grab larger prey and impale it onto a thorn or barbed wire to either eat it or store it for later. We had one around here for many years and watched it "do its thing". The only times I ever saw a Loggerhead meet its match was with the Mockingbirds we also have living here.

I forgot to mention that if you are interested in the Shrike or any other bird, please visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They have a lot of good information, photos, and bird calls that one can listed to. I highly encourage everyone to visit.

I had a Shrike around when I was in Baraga..yes
they eat smaller birds, mice, moles, etc. I
always had a mole under the apartment for all the
years I lived there...always made sure he had his
share of chow too....and then the Shrike would
show up! AND he won every single time! I saw him
doing battle with the mole one time...and yelled
out "OMG...The Shrike!" and he heard me and flew
off...saved the mole that time...but he got him.
They wait...they win....it's amazing! And they
gotta eat too....think of a walk in the
woods...there are NO carcasses of anything...the
Good Lord took care of that! Keep it clean!

Exquisite pix and the video has awesome detail. Don't forget to full-screen it and then tell me that you don't have bird crap all over your keyboard.
I was trying to figure out how the birds were getting the same helping from the same branch. It was like a fruit wraps candy vending machine was placed underneath.

Have always heard the stories about Shrikes impaling their 'victims' but have never seen one in person. They are amazing but i'm with you Mary, i hope they leave the birds at our feeders alone!