Bluebirds and shrike

 

Yesterday I watched insectivores hunting in a field: Mountain Bluebirds and Northern Shrikes.

Two weeks ago, the treat was the Western Bluebird, which sports an orange breast and shoulders. The breast of the Mountain Bluebird is powder blue (male) or grey (female).

A male (left) Mountain Bluebird and female (right) watch for insects from a fence.

From such a perch each will swoop down and capture a bug.

Unexpected was a sight of Mountain Bluebirds and a Shrike on adjacent fence posts. While they all hunt insects, the shrike will also take small birds. Indeed, the bluebirds seem to be eyeing the shrike warily. 

I managed to get close enough to get a couple of portraits. First the (male) Mountain Bluebird,

then the Northern Shrike.
    

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