Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyLaniidae (Shrikes)
- GenusLanius (Typical Shrikes)
- SpeciesLanius ludovicianus (Loggerhead Shrike)
The loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a passerine bird in the family Laniidae. It is the only member of the shrike family endemic to North America; the related northern shrike (L. borealis) occurs north of its range; however, it is also found in Siberia. It is nicknamed the butcherbird after its carnivorous tendencies, as it consumes prey such as insects, amphibians, lizards, small mammals and small birds, and some prey end up displayed and stored at a site, for example in a tree. Due to its small size and weak talons, this predatory bird relies on impaling its prey upon thorns or barbed wire for facilitated consumption. The numbers of loggerhead shrike have significantly decreased in recent years, especially in Midwestern, New England and Mid-Atlantic areas. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Loggerhead Shrike sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 190 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Badlands National Park
Northern Shrike
Lanius borealis
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Loggerhead Shrike in Badlands National Park?
About 24% of wildlife watchers report a Loggerhead Shrike sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 190 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Loggerhead Shrike in Badlands National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Loggerhead Shrike in Badlands National Park in our monthly data.