Northern Shrike

Lanius borealis

Also known as: Northern Grey Shrike, Butcher Bird, Great American Shrike, Ninekiller, Nshr

About This Species

A predatory songbird of open boreal country, tundra edge and scrubby fields across northern North America, recognised by its grey plumage, black mask and hooked bill. Look for it perched prominently on a wire, fence post or shrub top, scanning for small birds and rodents, and note its habit of impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire as a larder. Most visible in winter when it moves south into open farmland and grassland to hunt.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

Watch from a vehicle or at a distance with binoculars, since shrikes are wary and will abandon a good hunting perch if approached too closely.
It is a widespread, unlisted species so no specific legal distance applies beyond general wildlife protection laws in the countries it winters in, but minimising disturbance around a hunting perch or larder site helps it conserve energy in cold weather.
Avoid lingering near a discovered larder, since it represents an important food cache for the bird.

LCAvesPasseriformesLaniidae

Seasonal Activity

336,302 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

All monthsThis month

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae

Photo

CC-BY-NC-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.