Last of the Woodpecker's from last months trip. This is a Downy Woodpecker, the smallest of the species in North America, measuring just 7 ins in length. They can be found throughout the US and most of Canada. This is a female...the male can be distinguished by a red patch at the back of the head.
To the right is a Mourning Dove, a common sight which can be found throughout much of the continent. Similar in size to the Collared Dove.
Below is a Loggerhead Shrike. Less than affectionately known as the "Butcher Bird" as a result of its rather unusual behaviour of impaling its captured prey on plant spikes or barbed wire! Quite why it does this is unclear. It is found throughout the southern half of the US. It measures 9 ins long. Here it is seen at a suitably appropriate location!
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Ken,
ReplyDeleteIn my reference book, it says the Loggerhead Shrike has no talons, hence that is why it impales its prey on barbs or thorns.
Ahh, that would make sense. I will have to investigate further. Interestingly although he/she was sat on barbed wire I did not see any of its "victims" awaiting their doom! Mind you it was an airport fence, so I wasn't looking too carefully...something else was holding my attention!
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