Northern Shrike                                    Loggerhead Shrike    

 

 

Lanius excubitor                                                            Lanius ludovicianus  

The bird on the left appears to have an obvious hook to its beak, that is absent from the bird on the right.

Sibley says of the Northern Shrike: "large bill with obvious hook"

Sibley says of the Loggerhead Shrike: "stubby bill without obvious hook at tip"

Given the similarity in plumage, I took the contrast in the bill to be diagnostic.

The difference, however, appears to be not the presence vs. absence but in the degree of the hook.

Because of this, I have not counted the Northern Shrike as an additional species for this area.

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