I went looking for Snowy and Great Gray Owls again today but once more had no luck. There's still lots of winter left and if I don't spot one, someone else will. The word will then spread quickly and there will be a horde of us standing on some frozen sideroad, spotting scopes and cameras at the ready. I did however spot a Northern Shrike up in Holland Landing, at the Morning Sideroad and Yonge Street. 
It's a smart-looking bird and in the winter, hereabout, it's diet is primarily mice and small birds. While the shrike is a predator bird, it does not have talons like a raptor. It does have a sharp curved beak and uses that to give its prey a quick fatal blow to the back of the neck. It will then often impale its victim on a thorn or piece of barbed wire that makes it much easier for the shrike to butcher it's kill. Hence, it's nick-name: the Butcher Bird.
It's a smart-looking bird and in the winter, hereabout, it's diet is primarily mice and small birds. While the shrike is a predator bird, it does not have talons like a raptor. It does have a sharp curved beak and uses that to give its prey a quick fatal blow to the back of the neck. It will then often impale its victim on a thorn or piece of barbed wire that makes it much easier for the shrike to butcher it's kill. Hence, it's nick-name: the Butcher Bird.Please comment if you wish.
BtheB
Northern Shrike ~ Lanius excubitor
Wikipedia Photo
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