Sitting on a fence post looking for his next victim is a Loggerhead Shrike. “These birds sit on low, exposed perches and scan for rodents, lizards, birds, and insects. They eat smaller prey (such as ground beetles) right away, but they are famous for impaling larger items on thorns or barbed wire to be eaten later. The species often hovers. When flying it uses bursts of very rapid wingbeats.”
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Loggerhead_Shrike/id
This time the victim was a large Grasshopper.
Which the Shrike Caught and them impailed on this barbed wire fence.
The Shrike let the Grasshopper be for a minute but quickly went to town on his meal.
Laramie, WY.
nature has no boss 
I knew of the bird but have never seen this. Thanks 😀😀
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Your welcome, hope you get a chance one day as it is a fun thing to observe.
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I like their name. Too bad for the grasshopper. But, as my wife says, everybody has to eat.
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Hi Jim, it is one of the most curious things about life on our planet that we all need to eat each other in one way, shape or form to survive.
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They are a cool bird. A raptor in songbird’s clothing.
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HI and I agree with that assessment. Patient, relentless, intelligent just like anyones favorite Hawk.
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So true!
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Indeed.
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Amazing capture!
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Thanks.
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Never saw one of these before – what a pretty bird! Great capture too!!!
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Thanks, hope you get a chance to see one someday especially in action.
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Thanks I’d like that!
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Hope you do.
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Interesting post, Mike. Love the pictures as always! I was just thinking how we are perhaps conditioned to feel slightly appalled at the idea of the prey being impaled…but I guess it isn’t too far removed from our using a knife and fork. 🙂
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Hi Graham, I like the knife and fork analogy and how it give this intelligent bird credit where credit is due for using tools. I am sure if a bird evolved with two arms and two hands out like we did they would indeed be using a knife and a fork to, albeit little ones, to dine on this grasshopper.
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I was just coming here to comment about that. It does seem like the bird is using the fence as a tool from your description. Very cool!
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Hi Graham, it is funny that years ago I remember being taught somewhere in my early education that what made humans human was as a species we were the only ones to use tools. I am sure more observations and data has been made but that idea is sure a load of rubbish.
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One of my favorite birds 🙂
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Hi and Thanks, they are pretty cool birds indeed and one I wish I see more often.
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I love watching shrikes, they’re such warriors. Excellent series Mike.
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Hi Jet and thanks. Patient, intelligent and precise do make for a warrior and this Shrike displays all those traits. Hope your day is going well and your summer has been fine.
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Wow, I’m so glad I clicked on this post to visit from the reader. I never imagined that any birds would have the intelligence to stick their prey to thorns or of all things a barbed wire fence like that. I’ve never even heard of these birds before. I learned something new today 🙂 Great photos too.
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Hi David and thanks for stopping by and leaving us feedback as we really appreciate it. It is amazing when we look closely at other species beyond ourselves we find they do exhibit intelligence beyond what we first imagine. Just like you it was a wow moment when we first learned about then latter got to observed a Shrike in action.
Hope your day is going well and hope to see you around on the blog.
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Hi Mike, Excellent photography! I have only seen Loggerhead Shrikes a few times and boy, they are interesting and fast! Have a great day tomorrow.
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Hi and thanks. We only see Shrikes every know and then so watching this one hunting was a nice treat. Hope you get the chance to spend more time with them some day. Have a fine weekend.
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Great photos. Is it possible I saw a shrike on panhandle of Florida?
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