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Loggerhead Shrike


Loggerhead Shrike
Photo Information
Copyright: Luis Leal (Luis52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-03-07
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D90, 80-200 f2.8D ED AF Nikkor+1.5X Kenko
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/1000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Alex99 favorite pics [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2010-03-20 8:42
Viewed: 6093
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lanius ludovicianus.

General Description.
North American RangeThis medium-sized, gray songbird is the smaller and darker of the two species of shrike in North America. The Loggerhead Shrike has a gray underside and a darker gray back. Its wings are black with white patches, and its tail is black with white corners. Its head is large in proportion to its body. It has a heavy bill that is hooked at the very tip, and a wide black mask across its face. Juveniles are browner than adults, with buffy wing-bars and barred underparts. Loggerhead Shrikes have a shorter bill and a broader mask than Northern Shrikes. Their cheeks are brighter white, giving more contrast to their facial pattern. For the most part, the two species are found in Washington at different times of year, but they do overlap in some places.

Habitat
Loggerhead Shrikes are found only in North America. They breed in open country, including grasslands and shrub-steppe areas, where there are scattered trees, tall shrubs, fence posts, utility wires, or other lookout posts. They tend to nest in northeast- or southeast-facing ravines. Loggerhead Shrikes prefer more open country than that preferred by Northern Shrikes.

Behavior
Loggerhead Shrikes need large territories and thus are found only in low densities. They hunt by watching from high perches, then flying swiftly down after prey. Shrikes use their hooked bills to break the necks of vertebrate prey. Because their feet are not large or strong enough to hold prey, shrikes find a crotch in a tree, a thorn, or barbed wire to hang their prey on while they eat. Prey may be left on such a site for later consumption.

Diet
The Loggerhead Shrike is predominantly an insect-eater, especially in the summer when it feeds largely
Nesting
Loggerhead Shrikes nest in dense, thorny trees or shrubs, brush-piles, and even tumbleweeds. In Washington, they prefer tall, dense shrubs, usually in ravines. During courtship, the male makes short display flights and feeds the female. Both sexes help find the nest site and gather materials, but the female builds the nest, which is a bulky cup of twigs, grass, weeds, and bark lined with rootlets, hair, and feathers. The female incubates 5-6 eggs for 15-17 days, and then broods the young for the first 4-5 days after they hatch. The male brings food to the female and the young during this time. After this initial period, both parents feed the young, which leave the nest at 17-20 days and start to fly about a week later. The parents continue to feed and tend the young for another 3-4 weeks.

From Bird Web.

Saludos
Luis52.
maurydv, nglen, horias, Hormon_Manyer, roges, marianas, jeanpaul, CeltickRanger, scubli, Chiza, tuslaw, boreocypriensis, Alex99, marius-secan, Jamesp, Juyona, lovenature has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jignasi: Motos.Luis52 1 03-22 07:39
To manyee: Looks MadLuis52 1 03-20 08:57
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Luis,
Your bird looks mad!
Great POV and eye contact.
The eye shows up well against the black stripe .
Excellent lighting.
TFS. : )

Hello Luis,
Excellent composition, beautiful colors, excellent contrast and sharpness.
Congratulations
Vanni

Hola Luis,
fantastica immagine di Lanius lugovicianus, eccellente il punto di ripresa, ottima nitidezza e bellissima luce sull'occhio, splendidi colori naturali,
Grazie e complimenti
Buen fin de semana
Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2010-03-20 10:24]

Hi Luis. You have captured a fine close up of the Loggerhead Shrike . A good pose from the bird so we can see the head details and natural looking colours. well taken TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2010-03-20 10:38]

Luis
Wonderful capture this lovely Lanius ludovicianus.
Details and colors are fantastic!
Congratulation!
Horia

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 0 N: 1329] (6264)
  • [2010-03-20 10:43]

Hola Luis,
Estoy aquí de nuevo.
de nuevo una captura interesante. Hermosos colores y contrastes con un muy buen POV.
Una vez más un macro impresionante.
Un hermoso sábado,
Adrian

Hola Luis,
Absolutely fantastic portrait of this American Lanius species, which I never saw before. A little bit reminded me to the Northern Shrike (L. excubitor). Beautiful sharpness, POV, poser and eye-contact. The only, very small thing I should have done somehow else is cropping: there are little branch parts in the low right corner and the left (center), which are a bit disturbing. Not a lot, of course, but something to be alert of by my opinion.
Have a nice weekend, friendly regards, László

Ciao Luis, wonderful bird in nice pose, beautiful lighting BG, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hi Luis
Great Lanius ludovicianus.
I like a very sharp details and a lovely colors!
Horia

Bonjour Luis
Très belle prise, excellente netteté et ces couleurs sont superbes! Bravo et merci pour le partage.
Amicalement ...JP

hello Luis
super sharpness pose of a beauty!
great details and beautiful colours
greeting lou

hello Luis

excellent photo of the Loggerhead Shrike,
with fine POV and appropriate framing,
fine focus excellent sharpness and details,
beautiful eye-contact with great expression,

TFS

Asbed

Hello Luis,
I find this an excellent capture with natural colors and great details.
Regards,
Mircea

Hello Luis,

Such a great shot of this lovely bird.
Well managed light with great DOF.
Nicely presented with a good POV.
Congrats and TFS.

Best regards,
scubli

  • Great 
  • Chiza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 474] (5351)
  • [2010-03-20 16:37]

Hola Luis; que buena toma y especie has logrado; como nos tienes acostumbrados.Saludos.

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2752 W: 280 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2010-03-20 20:01]

Hello Luis,
A wonderful close-up of this pretty little bird. Shown with exceptional detail and gorgeous natural colors. Love the composition, exposure and beautiful eye catch. Great work!!!
Ron

Hola Luis,

An awesome capture of this curius looking shrike from wonderful POV in a lovely pose. The details and sharpness look perfect.
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2010-03-20 23:25]

Hi, dear Luis.
I cannot imagine better shot. All is simply great. I am impressed with close distance and magnification. Details and sharpness of the bird and branch images are exceptional. BG is also superb. Bravo. Perfect bird picture.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5136 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-03-21 8:57]

Hello Luis,
Fantastic sharp detailed photo taken from a very good POV with impressive eye-contact. Very beautiful natural colours.
Don't have much time these days. Busy at work, my birthday and a new computer are the cause.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Luis,
Exceptional capture this supertb Shrike. Very good details and clarity.
The composition is great. Excellent POV.
Marius.

Hola Luis,
Despues de la bella Phainopepla todo sabe a poco ya que realmente me impactó ese trabajo ( al igual que otros tuyos ).
La creatividad del artista renace en cada fotografía, y ese es tu caso, ya que con características totalmente diferentes nos vuelves a presentar, sorprendiéndonos, otro precioso trabajo.
Veo que tienes nuevo "look", no sabía que eras motero jajaja.
Un abrazo y buena semana: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2010-03-21 23:52]

Hi Luis

Beautiful pose and razor sharp detail - great work!

Best wishes

James

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2010-03-22 0:59]

Hola Luis,
muy bonito y con gran calidad,
por aquí el Lanius meridionalis está criando,
y es bonito ver a los pequeños reclamar alimento,
el ave estaba muy atento a tus movimientos,
saludos
¿recibiste mi e-mail?

Hi Luis
I love the close up of this Loggerhead Shrike and the detail you've shown of his plumage and beak. His beak looks like it means business, I guess that's what you need when you eat insects. A wonderful portrait!
TFS Janice

Hi Luis

Great shot, excellent sharpness and details. Excellent OOF background, great pose. Excellent work.

Chris

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