A shriek in the cemetery: Loggerhead Shrikes, our macabre songbird
Regina, SK – May 22, 2025 – Spring has sprung! With the return of the warmer weather our favourite birds have also arrived; ready to start their breeding season on the prairies. One of these species to return is our favourite gruesome little songbird, the Loggerhead Shrike. This predatory songbird, well known for their habit of impaling their prey on thorns or barbs, is on the lookout for ideal habitat; with pairs building nests and getting ready to lay eggs. Late May to early June is a great time to spot returning shrikes, as they are very active finding their perfect spots!
What is the ideal habitat for a predatory songbird? One of the best places to see shrikes while you are out and about may surprise you- or not, as it is quite fitting for a bird with such spooky habitats. Shrikes can readily be found in prairie cemeteries across Southern Saskatchewan, nesting in the old growth trees and shrubs that usually border the fenceline of these areas. “If you are visiting a loved one this summer in such a place, keep an eye out for these striking black, white, and grey birds!” Emily Putz, Shrubs for Shrikes coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan explains, “They have a distinct shrieking alarm call to keep an ear out for as well.”
Loggerhead Shrikes prefer cemeteries not just because flitting among gravestones fits their reputation, but because of the habitat cemeteries provide. “Prairie cemeteries are usually surrounded by pasture or crop, and the grass within them is usually mowed short, all ideal hunting areas to catch mice and insects,” Putz further explains,” Paired with older growth shelterbelts, these areas really do form oases of habitat on our changing landscape. For these reasons shrikes also prefer and can be found in abandoned yard sites, golf courses, and ball diamonds as well!”
The Loggerhead Shrike has been listed as a threatened species since the 1980s, with their range, once spanning the entirety of the prairie provinces, contracting to be mainly focused in Southern Saskatchewan and parts of SE Alberta. Habitat loss is the main driver of their decline, with the loss of both native prairie, and their adapted habitat of shelterbelts, disappearing.
Nature Saskatchewan runs a voluntary stewardship program, Shrubs for Shrikes, that works with rural landholders to conserve and monitor this species at risk. If you see a Loggerhead Shrike, or impaled prey, call the toll free HOOTline at 1-800-667-4668 or email. Personal information is never shared without permission and every sighting helps this species’ recovery!