Mystery Bird: Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus

Looks like a loggerhead shrike to me; common name "butcher bird" for its habit of impaling excess prey items on thorns, spikes, etc. found in its environment.

Whoops, forgot my ID marks: black "bandit" mask, grey cap extending down the back. The fact that it's sitting on a barbed wire fence is suggestive as well.

When I was a little kid I discovered several baby garter snakes impaled on a barbed wire fence. I figured that some mean older kids must've done it. In retrospect, I realize that it was probably a shrike.

The cat's out of the bag on the ID, but I still want to mention my second-favorite Coppola movie, and Gary Oldman's character's real-life source (which would have yielded a behavioral clue, rather than the scientific name).

On the etymology of "loggerhead", I didn't know it, but according to this site, it refers to "an iron tool consisting of a long handle with a bulbous end (thus describing the birdâs large head), used when heated to melt tar or warm liquids."

Wikipedia say that the "loggerhead" refers to the large head size relative to the body.

I gave up trying to understand common bird names shortly after I started watching them. Folk taxonomy starts at confusing and trends toward ridiculous at a high rate of speed.

martial German name: Neuntöter!

Stunning photo.