This is the larger of Oregon's two shrikes, and the more likely to be seen in winter. Most of those seen in Oregon are hatch-year birds wearing brownish plumage in the fall and graying as winter passes. Adults stand out from young of the year with more crisp gray, black, and white plumage.

Shrikes inhabit open landscapes. They resemble and act like small raptors, however, they capture and kill prey with a hooked bill rather than with talons.

The Northern shrike is an uncommon to locally common visitor in open habitats statewide. It is absent some years along the southern coast.

Hear the song of the Northern shrike

Photo by Mick Thompson, Flickr