 Breeding evidence |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
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Atlas Results
Northern Shrikes were sighted on four occasions on the breeding grounds in far northern Saskatchewan. All sightings of this thinly distributed species occurred in 2019, coinciding with the year of greatest survey effort in the far northern region. Although breeding was not confirmed, a pair was observed along the Porcupine River indicating probable breeding in the area.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
Breeding in the sparse boreal forest and shrubby tundra of northern Canada and Alaska, the Northern Shrike is the larger of the two Saskatchewan shrikes and the one most likely to be seen in late fall, winter, and early spring. It commonly takes songbirds as prey, although it also eats mice, voles, and insects if available (Knight 1967, Belcher 1980, Callin 1980, Roy 1996, Wapple and Renaud 2008). Breeds in the north from western Alaska, Northwest Territories, Nunavut to Labrador and many but not all winter in southern Canada and northern US.
During migration and in winter it frequents open areas where trees provide tall hunting perches. It is often seen near farmsteads, possibly due to the availability of House Sparrows and other birds. "A bird will stay for weeks in an area with satisfactory food supply? (Callin 1980).
The Northern Shrike is an uncommon winter resident over the southern two-thirds of Saskatchewan, while in the northern third it is an uncommon transient (Smith 1996). On three occasions it has been reported probably breeding in the north of the province.
Original text by Tina Portman. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Northern Shrike in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Northern Shrike in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=NSHR&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]
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