[mou] shrike sounds: purposeful mimicry?

[linda whyte]

This afternoon at Afton State Park, Rob and I observed a shrike in the act
of broadcasting its repertoire. Before I caught sight of it, it seemed I was
hearing an off-key bluejay---not too surprising, since the Sibley Behavior
Book mentions its DNA relationship to corvids. But then the sounds morphed
into something rather like calls given by our backyard chickadees when they
arrive at the feeders. Very quickly, there were chickadees seeming to
respond to the shrike's sounds, by calling and approaching its territory.
After a bit, the shrike dropped down out of sight into a thicket behind its
perch. There was no telling if it was in a pursuit for sure, but we never
did see or hear it again, nor did we find a cache.

Could the shrike be using mimicry to lure its prey, or to get other birds to
reveal their position?

Linda Whyte
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