The general decline of Loggerhead Shrike numbers across much of eastern North America has puzzled many experts. Once a reasonably common species of grasslands and savanna-like habitats in Iowa and the Midwest, this species has now become rare in many parts of that range. This medium sized, gray and black bird was fairly common in parts of southern Iowa just a few decades ago but in recent years it has become increasingly difficult to find. Long known for its habit of impaling its prey on thorns or barbed wire, the Loggerhead Shrike is raptor-like in its food habits, even though it is a songbird. Most often seen perched on a utility wire along a rural roadside, shrikes can be easily picked out by their large head and neckless profile. Besides the loss of the shrubby habitat that they occupy, chemical contamination on the wintering grounds has also been suggested as a possible problem.
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indicates a designated IBA.