Northern Shrike, Boulder County

Paula Hansley

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Dec 29, 2019, 6:20:40 PM12/29/19

to CObirds

Wow! I just walked outside and instantly heard the screams of a small bird in one of my spruce trees. I walked up to the tree expecting to see one of my Cooper’s Hawks, but a Northern Shrike burst out of the tree clutching a House Finch within inches of my face! I could still hear the poor finch screaming 1 1/2 blocks away.

Paula Hansley
Louisville

Sent from my iPhone

Peter Ruprecht

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Dec 29, 2019, 7:29:28 PM12/29/19

to CObirds

What a thrilling thing to see!

I know this is totally anecdotal, but it's seems like I'm hearing more and more about shrikes hunting in suburban yards. Maybe in 10 years they'll be here in town all the time, just like the Cooper's Hawks have converged around the buffet stations in the suburban forests.

Peter Ruprecht

Superior

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Chris Petrizzo

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Dec 31, 2019, 7:13:50 AM12/31/19

to Colorado Birds

Paula, my backyard in Broomfield is part of the anecdotal evidence to which Peter refers. We've had a Northern Shrike hunting around the Lac Amora Open Space for the last few weeks, and I got some really cool photos of it with a male House Finch in its bill. I posted one of the pictures on my Instagram feed for Broomfield Widlife: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vEZczjfeA/

I also have photos of that same shrike chasing a Blue Jay, and eating a cricket!