A non-profit citizens' group advocating for Newton's open spaces
NORTHERN SHRIKE, Lanius excubitor
February 2013
Photo by Pete GilmoreThe northern shrike is an occasional winter visitor in the Newton area. Look for it in an open area, perched on a fence post or exposed tree limb watching for prey, usually a small rodent or bird. It is easily mistaken for a northern mockingbird, which has a similar gray coloration and prominent white wing-bars. The shrike has a black, mask-like eye-line and a curved bill with a hook at its tip.
