I first noticed this Northern Shrike on Wednesday before the snowstorm. I wondered if it had found my bird feeders, and was now taking advantage of the situation. This morning I discovered the answer to my question is a definite yes. It took a run at a mourning dove (unsuccessfully).

My tweety birds had better watch out, a new guy is in town! It was fun to watch it hunt. I was amazed that the shrike was willing to announce its presence by singing, which is what originally attracted me to it a few days ago. While I am familiar with the rasping call of the shrike, the more melodious sound I had never heard. When that song appeared in my yard on Wednesday I looked around to find the source. It was familiar to the second song down in the list on this Cornell page on shrikes.

I hope to get some real close-ups if the bird sticks around for the winter. There is certainly plenty of prey to hunt.