Just to add some other images, here are some photos of Loggerhead Shrike photo showing vermiculations
http://www.beachhunter.net/blog/2008/04/wherefore-art-thou-loggerhead.html http://sdakotabirds.com/species/loggerhead_shrike_info.htm And here is Kevin McGowan's pretty excellent review of the two species using specimens. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/loggerhd.htm Hugh On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 9:25 AM, Shaibal Mitra <[email protected]>wrote: > I forgot to include links to photos. > > Here are a few of my own, with a couple of Northern Shrike shots for > comparison: > > http://picasaweb.google.com/tixbirdz/LongIslandMiscellany2010# > > Here are some from John Gluth: > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgluth_brb/sets/72157625379326695/with/5212944549/ > > ________________________________________ > From: [email protected] [ > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Shaibal Mitra [ > [email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 9:16 AM > To: NYSBIRDS ([email protected]) > Subject: [nysbirds-l] Identity of Jones Beach Shrike > > A shrike present at Jones Beach West End, Nassau County, LI has been > identified by many as a Northern Shrike, but a considerable amount of > back-channel discussion has questioned whether it might actually be a > Loggerhead. > > When I finally saw this bird well this past weekend I was already aware of > the debates surrounding its identity, so I made an effort to evaluate the > various characters that have been proposed in support of each species. As > might be suspected multiple features have been proposed to support each > view, so the question is how to evaluate the relative reliability of each > character. > > To me, the bird appeared relatively small and quick (vs. the large and > lanky impression usually imparted by Northern Shrike), with a relatively > large head, rounded crown, and short bill--all consistent with Loggerhead > Shrike. Also consistent with Loggerhead Shrike was the relatively dark gray > tone to its back. > > Features more consistent with Northern Shrike include: extensively pale > base to lower mandible, heavily hooked upper mandible, the shape of the > black mask behind the eye, obvious gray barring on the breast in the absence > of any barring on the back. > > The appearance of this bird's mask in the area of the eye itself and in > front of the eye seems equivocal and has been argued in both directions, but > I find it easier to find photos of Loggerheads that match its facial > appearance than photos of Northerns that do so. > > Taking these features individually, I think that individual variation could > account for many discrepancies either way. For instance, it seems plausible > that some Northern Shrikes could have small bills and that some Loggerheads > could have heavily hooked bills, etc. > > To me, the difficult questions are: > > 1. Could a Northern Shrike could look so small, quick, and large-headed? > > 2. Could an immature Loggerhead Shrike show a pale-based mandible and > ventral barring in the absence of dorsal barring? > > 3. Is this bird's mask pattern possibly diagnostic, despite the conflicting > impressions of local observers? > > Any constructive answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated! > > Shai Mitra > Bay Shore > > Think green before you print this email. > > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html > 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > > Think green before you print this email. > > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html > 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- Hugh McGuinness The Ross School 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, NY 11937 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
