Editing Loggerhead shrike (section)

==Behavior==
===Diet===
Loggerhead shrikes have been repeatedly observed killing prey larger than themselves by spearing the neck or head of the animal and twisting. The speed at which this occurs causes a [[whiplash (medicine)|whiplash]] injury to the animal. The neck strength of the shrikes compensates, making their talon weakness inconsequential.<ref>{{cite news |title=Head-turning violence helps tiny songbirds kill big prey: study |url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/2265/head-turning-violence-helps-tiny-songbirds-kill-big-prey-study-doc-18u9wy1 |work= AFP.com| publisher= Agence France-Presse |date=5 September 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180905060159/https://www.afp.com/en/news/2265/head-turning-violence-helps-tiny-songbirds-kill-big-prey-study-doc-18u9wy1 |archive-date= 5 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

Although loggerhead shrikes are [[passerines]], they are a predatory species that hunt during the day. They primarily eat insects, but also consume arachnids, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, [[bat]]s and small birds.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mikula|first1=P.|last2=Morelli|first2=F.|last3=Lučan|first3=R. K.| last4= Jones| first4=D. N.|last5=Tryjanowski|first5=P.| display-authors= 3| year= 2016| title=Bats as prey of diurnal birds: a global perspective |journal= [[Mammal Review]] |volume= 46| issue= 3|pages=160–174|doi=10.1111/mam.12060}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sustaita | first1 = D | last2 = Rubega | first2 = M | year = 2014 | title = The anatomy of a shrike bite: bill shape and bite performance in Loggerhead Shrikes | journal = [[Biological Journal of the Linnean Society]] | volume = 112 | issue = 3| pages = 485–98 | doi=10.1111/bij.12298| doi-access = free }}</ref> They have even eaten venomous snakes such as the [[water adder]]. The size of prey ranges from {{cvt|0.001|g}} insects to {{cvt|25|g|sigfig=2}} mice or reptiles.<ref name= "craig1978"/>
[[File:Desert Iguana imported from iNaturalist photo 13241876 on 3 December 2024.jpg|thumb|[[Desert iguana]] pinned to a [[Krameria bicolor|white rhatany]] shrub by a loggerhead shrike. In California.]]
They are not true birds of prey, as they lack the large, strong talons used to catch and kill prey.<ref name="smith1973"/> Instead, they are sit-and-wait hunters that stalk prey by [[hawking (birds)|hawking]] and diving from elevated perches. By scanning their vicinity from a perch instead of flying, the shrike does not exhaust its energy during the search. Preferred perches are approximately {{cvt|13|ft|m|sigfig=2}} off the ground, and are usually outer branches of trees or telephone wires.<ref name="craig1978"/><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Atkinson |first1=Eric C. | last2=Cade | first2=Tom J. |year= 1993 |title= Winter foraging and diet composition of Northern Shrikes in Idaho |journal= [[Condor (journal)|Condor]] |volume= 95| issue=3| pages= 528–35 | url= https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/condor/v095n03/p0528-p0535.pdf | doi=10.2307/1369596|jstor=1369596 }}</ref> In winter, prey availability is low due to the shrike's preference for insects and [[poikilotherm]]ic prey; during this time, shrikes may be energetically stressed and underweight.<ref name="craig1978"/> Insects are consumed in mid-flight, but vertebrates usually require more handling time and therefore more energy.<ref name="smith1973"/> Due to the shrike's small size in proportion to the size of its prey, it must rely on specialized adaptations to facilitate its hunting. The powerful, hooked beak of the loggerhead shrike allows it to sever the neck of a small vertebrate. Larger prey are subjected to impaling, in which they are pushed down into a sharp projection, such as a thorn or barbed wire. The bird can then tear off flesh by using the projection as an anchor.<ref name="smith1973"/> The shrike may also use the thorn to fasten and store its food to return to at a later time.<ref name= "craig1978"/>

The motion of impalement appears to be instinctive, as parent shrikes do not demonstrate the behavior to their nestlings. However, a young shrike must experience impaling prey upon an actual projection during a critical developmental period; otherwise, it will not learn to use the instinctive impaling action upon an actual projection.<ref>{{cite journal| last= Smith |first= S.| year= 1972| title= The ontogeny of impaling behaviour in the Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus L.| journal= [[Behaviour (journal)|Behaviour]]| volume= 42| number= 3| pages= 232–46|doi= 10.1163/156853972X00284}}</ref> [[Kleptoparasitism]] has also been observed in nature, in which the shrike chased down another bird and stole its recently-caught prey.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Etterson | first1 = M | last2 = Howery | first2 = M | year = 2001 | title = Kleptoparasitism of soil-foraging passerines by loggerhead shrikes | journal = [[Journal of Field Ornithology]] | volume = 72 | issue = 3| pages = 458–461 | doi=10.1648/0273-8570-72.3.458}}</ref>

===Reproduction===
[[File:Loggerhead Shrike nest site.jpg|thumb|In Napanee, Ontario]]

Loggerhead shrikes are monogamous birds. However, males are known to begin second nesting attempts with a second female before his first clutch has fledged. They begin breeding during their first spring.<ref name="chabot1994"/> During this time, the male performs a [[courtship ritual]] that occurs in flight. He dances erratically in the air, flying rapidly up and down and occasionally chasing the female. He presents himself to his potential mate by fanning out his tail and fluttering his wings.<ref name="smith1973"/><ref name="miller1931"/><ref>{{cite book| last= Bent | first= A.| year= 1950| chapter= Loggerhead shrike| title= Life histories of North American wagtails, shrikes, vireos and their allies| place= New York | publisher= Dover Publications, Inc.| isbn= }}</ref>  Females may respond to the fluttering display with begging notes, similar to those of juveniles begging for food; this encourages the male to feed her.<ref name="smith1973"/>

The bird breeds in semi-open areas in [[southern Ontario]], [[Quebec]], and the Canadian prairie provinces, south to [[Mexico]]. It nests in isolated or small clusters of dense trees and shrubs from near ground level to over 4m in height. There is an increase in average [[avian clutch size|clutch size]] as latitude increases. Shrikes begin incubation after laying the second to last egg, resulting in asynchronous hatching. Incubation, on average, lasts 16 days. The female lays 4 to 8 eggs in a bulky cup made of twigs and grass. Once hatched, nestlings are fed by both the male and female parent. Average fledging period is about 19 days. Young may then remain nearby and dependent on adults for 3 to 4 weeks. After that, they begin to forage independently. Oftentimes, nestlings do not survive long past hatching. In the case of dead nestlings, adult shrikes may eat or discard their bodies or else feed them to their remaining young.<ref>{{cite journal| last= Kridelbaugh |first= A.| year= 1983| title= Nesting ecology of the loggerhead shrike in central Missouri| journal= The Wilson Bulletin| volume= 95| number= 2| pages= 303–08}}</ref> The oldest recorded age of a loggerhead shrike was 12 years and 6 months.<ref>{{cite book| editor-last1= Podulka | editor-first1= S| editor-last2= Rohrbaugh | editor-first2= R| editor-last3= Bonney | editor-first3= R| year= 2004| title= Handbook of Bird Biology| place= Princeton, New Jersey| publisher= Cornell Lab of Ornithology| edition= | isbn= }}</ref>