Speaking of “bright eyes” (yesterday’s post wishing I could see more of Sundance’s eye through his forelock), this little fellow’s bright eyes are literally masked by his markings, and in the overcast light, they weren’t bright enough to reflect light (at least from the distance at which I was in my Jeep). I heard him rather than saw him and backed up to hear more!
He’s a loggerhead shrike, known for impaling their prey, all the better that it doesn’t get away while feasting!
Handsome little songster!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
What a cute little bird!
And a pretty singer, too!
His beak does not look long enough to impale anything, but Floyd and I observed a little bird like that by the Ouray pool one summer that would dive in for the minnies , bring them out and slap it around on the cement until it opened up and then ate it. Fascinating but gruesome.
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They impale the insects and other prey on thorns, etc., not their beaks. Here’s an example shown by an excellent bird photographer in the Salt Lake City area: https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2022/07/15/the-loggerhead-shrike-and-the-dragonfly/
What an amazing little guy.
I loved seeing – and hearing! – him!
What a great “catch,” TJ. An interesting and beautiful little desert bird!
I think I’ve previously seen them only in pictures. I was thrilled to see this handsome fellow for myself!
What a great picture. You got it!
I was happy to catch one image where his mouth was open as he was singing … and another where he seemed to be looking at me, even though I was a fair distance away in the Jeep. 🙂