Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 51.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Laniidae Shrikes
- Genus Lanius
- Species ludovicianus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 51.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Loggerhead Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Loggerhead Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a species of bird in the Laniidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 51.6 g, with a wing length of about 9.6 cm and a tail of around 9.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Loggerhead Shrike?
The Loggerhead Shrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 51.6 g.
Where does the Loggerhead Shrike live?
The Loggerhead Shrike is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Loggerhead Shrike belong to?
The Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Loggerhead Shrike eat?
The Loggerhead Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Loggerhead Shrike migrate?
The Loggerhead Shrike is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Loggerhead Shrike endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Loggerhead Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Loggerhead Shrike — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Loggerhead Shrike's range?
The Loggerhead Shrike has a mapped global range of about 8.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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