The Northern Shrike, aka "Butcher Bird"

#FunFactFriday Did you know that the Northern Shrike is a surprisingly skilled hunter?

Despite their cute appearance, the Northern Shrike is a fierce predator of insects, small mammals, and other birds. They will chase or ambush their prey and kill them with a quick bite to the neck using their specialized beak. The upper bill of their beak is hooked, with a tooth-like spike on either side and a corresponding notch on either side of the lower mandible.

Sometimes Northern Shrikes will hunt more than they can eat, so they will leave their prey impaled on thorns or barbed wire to save for later. This has earned them the nickname “butcher bird”.

The Okanagan is part of the Northern Shrike's non-breeding range, which means you will most likely see them here in the winter months. They go farther North, all the way to Alaska, to breed.