Six days ago I managed to document some interesting and fun behaviors of a mated pair of Loggerhead Shrikes in Box Elder County.
That morning I was having intermittent problems with soft images so several of the photos below are noticeably soft. But they’re sharp enough to document behaviors.
Both shrikes were acting goofy but after a while it became apparent that their sometimes quirky behaviors revolved around courtship feeding. Courtship feeding occurs when the female is ready to form pair bonds, so she demands and accepts food from her chosen mate.
And this female was nothing if she wasn’t demanding. From this spot on the fence wire she regularly and persistently demanded to be fed by facing in his direction and squawking loudly. I’ve seen Black-billed Magpies and a few other birds doing the same thing.
Several times, while the female was on that same spot on the wire (out of frame to the left), the male would land on the other side of the fence post and hunt insects from there. He was high-strung and twitchy, moving quickly to different places on the wire or taking off after prey.
But this time he fooled me.
He quickly turned to his left and took off to land on top of the fence post. I caught him in a flight posture I adore, largely because of his curled feet.
I got one more flight shot before…
he landed on the post.
He hunted from the top of the post as the female waited to be fed on the wire below him. She was squawking at him intermittently.
He took off after prey and…
returned to the wire on ‘his side’ of the post with a small insect in his bill. This photo was taken immediately after he landed so his tail is flared and raised to stop his forward momentum.
I had to wonder if he preferred to have the fence post between them because she was so very demanding, even aggressive at times. If so I don’t blame him.
He reached around the post to offer her the insect, which she eagerly accepted. When I see this photo of this behavior the word “cute” comes to mind. I can’t help myself.
Immediately after accepting the insect the female jumped up to the top of the post to wait for the next food delivery. The male is already scanning the area for another edible gift.
But the next food delivery didn’t happen while I was there. Wouldn’t you know it, a pickup pulling an incredibly noisy trailer came along and scared both shrikes into the next county.
That’s bird photography for you.
Ron
Note: Image techs for these photos were in the range of 1/4000 – 1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc,.
Suspect the one squawking Magpie of a pair the past few days may be involved in that sort of thing – wondered what her problem was and hope she’s “over it” soon! 😉
Awww. A series to melt the stoniest of hearts.
Thank you.
Glad you like it, EC. Thanks.
Loggerhead Lovebirds! The Beakersons? In any case, that penultimate photo is definitely “cute,” if not sweet. (Doubtful that adjective has ever been used to describe these birds!) I’m also fond of #6, they’re above and below, looking this way and that, possibly like an old married couple? 💕 Too bad about the noisy interloper….
Chris, in bird photography “noisy interlopers” are to be expected, if not appreciated. What upsets me most is that they always seem to make their appearance at EXACTLY the worst time.
Wonderful series! Great photos despite a few softies. I got to watch something similar a few days ago but far away. I know we have talked about our issues with soft focus from time to time with our gear, I don’t hear many of my other friends with the same canon set up complain. Either it is happening to them and they don’t say anything about it or they have not experienced it yet. I find it frustrating, along with the lock up issue. I have been trying to read online any articles existing about both problems. Not seeing a fix really.
“Either it is happening to them and they don’t say anything about it or they have not experienced it yet.”
April, another possibility for some of them might be that they don’t recognize moderately soft photos when they see them. Lots of folks don’t.
This couple IS adorable, and it is a bit difficult to reconcile this cuteness with the ruthlessness you have previously documented. I’m glad there are bugs available for him! She does look like a “nice restaurant” girl (vs “hot dog at the ball game”). What fun for you to have seen in person. Thank you for showing us, too!
“She does look like a “nice restaurant” girl (vs “hot dog at the ball game”).”
Made me smile, Carolyn.
“Feed me, Seymour!” Definitely wise of him to keep a bit of something as a little barrier between them lest she take his beak with the bug. 😉 I do like his flared tail and I hope that these two have lots of babies together this season. 💕
“Feed me, Seymour!”
Little Shop of Horrors. I had to look it up. You’ll educate me yet, Marty.
Both the 1986 movie musical (the alternate endings can be found by searching YouTube too) and the 1960 original are worth watching!
In my opinion, no musical is “worth watching”. I’m not a fan of the genre.- not by a long shot.
😁
Adorbs!!! The curled feet in the male flight shot caught my eye immediately! Cute indeed.
Glad you agree. Thanks, Kathleen.
One backward, one forward, around the fence post, all make that photo unbelievably cute. Cute enough that I may have to ask to buy a print! (I know — see earlier blog. 😄) Thanks for the great series, Ron.
I don’t think it would print well, Ellen. It’s too soft.
Wow, another great behavioral series.
“Cute”? I’d say cautious.
A lot to love about Loggerhead Shrikes; their coloration, their trade mark wing stroke, their very determined hunting style, and their unique habit of pinning trophy kills on barbed wire fences and such.
Thank again Ron!
““Cute”? I’d say cautious.”
Perhaps both…
Fun series Ron even if “serious business” for the Shrikes! 🙂 #3 photo IS special and “cute” does work even knowing their general disposition…. 😉
Old steel posts and barbed wire work for them even if NOT good for other wildlife.
Thanks, Judy. I suspect we’d have fewer shrikes if not for fences and barbed wire.
Same with Western Meadowlarks here………
And here. Kingbirds also.
See Easterns on the fences tho not the Western…..
Mrs Shrike screaming in fury, and Mr Shrike anxiously landing and then tentatively peering around the post and nervously offering up his (inadequate?) morsel and then relaxing and gathering his breath for a moment. Only a monster could quibble with the word cute.
Cute works for me, Frances.
Great series, thanks.
Thank you, Ann.
Cute indeed and interesting. In all my times of running into Shrikes I have never had the pleasure of seeing them do anything except sit there and watch me. I don’t think I have ever seen two together, although I could certainly have forgotten. Fun series.
Thanks, Everett. I doubt you’d have forgotten seeing two of them together. Not you…
Until this morning, I never would have thought of the words “shrike” and
“cute” belonging in the same description– but you’ve shown it to be appropo
here !
Me either, Kris. Me either.
It is the season for romance! I observed some frisky chipmunks, they barely have come out from all the snow .
Take Care,
Kaye
Good for you, Kaye. I’ve yet to see my first chipmunk of the year.
OK, I get that this is a courtship behavior, kind of a ritual offering. But c’mon, that minuscule morsel just ain’t gonna cut the mustard. This guy better up his game if he wants to get beyond first base. The first photo might as well be the last one, too.
Kudos for documenting this, by the way.
Lyle, when it comes to food it appears that the female shrike is easier to please than you are. But then you like and actually eat tofu so you can’t be all that fussy…
What a wonderful series! I think ‘cute’ is wholly appropriate. It also occurred to me that barbed wire’s useful in a very particular way for these birds. If he catches a little extra, he always could impale it on a barb, and offer it later as a snack.
Yup, nasty ol’ barbed wire is very convenient for shrikes. Thanks, Shoreacres.
Your insights with photos are very entertaining!
Well, that’s good. I think. Thanks, Terri.