Northern shrike.
For the past two years we have had a northern shrike stop by the yard to check out the feeder birds.
We haven't seen him take anything or have him come to the pond for a drink or bath.
Lanius excubitor
The Northern Shrike, like other shrikes, kills more prey, if it can, than it can immediately eat or feed to nestlings. Such behavior was characterized by early observers as "wanton killing," but the Northern Shrike stores excess prey to eat later. Storing food is an adaptation for surviving periods of food scarcity. source - Cornell Lab or Ornithology.
We haven't seen him take anything or have him come to the pond for a drink or bath.
Lanius excubitor
The Northern Shrike, like other shrikes, kills more prey, if it can, than it can immediately eat or feed to nestlings. Such behavior was characterized by early observers as "wanton killing," but the Northern Shrike stores excess prey to eat later. Storing food is an adaptation for surviving periods of food scarcity. source - Cornell Lab or Ornithology.
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