Lanius Bucephalus Research Articles

The social structure of Bull-headed Strike with special reference to the territoriality of its breeding season

1. This investigation regarding the territoriality and social structure of the Bull-headed Shrike was Lanius bucephalus bucephalus (TEMMINCK & SCHLEGEL) conducted from March 1959 to July 1960 at Mie University in the city of Tsu.2. The annual life of this species is divided into seven periods: courtship, nesting, family life, young bird life, migration, fighting, and individual life.3. In usual cases, the territory in the breeding season develops from the winter territory of the male. It is formed by the characteristic behaviour such as song, aggressive flight and attack after mating in mid-February and distinguishes when the youngs become independent.4. During the mating season their territory is an area of about 14, 000 m2. The area of this investigation was 30 ha, and there were 10 pairs in 1959 and 9 in 1960. The two examples of breeding in the same place and between the same male and female were observed during a 2 year period.5. According to a classification of Hinde, the territorial activities of this species belong to type A, which carries on all the activities of breeding within its own territory, but a part of their belong to type B, which during the family life period seeks its foods outside its own territory.6. As for the feeding activities during the family period, the male and the the female tend to forage in different areas, and each takes particular care of different youngs.

A seasonal observation of the Bull-headed Shrike's 'larders'

'Larders' of the Bull-headed Shrike, Lanius bucephalus, were examined at Takaoka City, Toyama, during 25 March 1959 and 13 May 1960. The dominant plant of the flora, consisting of 31 species, was Robinia pseudo-Acacia L. By weekly census, the species of larders were recorded with notes on floral and insectfaunal changes. The species and number of victims were dependent upon their periods of occurrence and abundance, as well as size. Larders were more frequent when grasses were short and more bare grounds were exposed, since the shrike is terrestrial feeder and larders increased with periodic increase of the shrike. Larders were found also in summer when Melae (Eurymelae) corvinus was a marked victim, and shrike's own pellets or even its chick's droppings were found impaled. These facts may disprove the sygnificance of larders as food storage for winter. Larders on preferred perches were eaten more frequently and some learning seems to be involved in this, but this is not related to purposive food storage. The impaling is to be considered as one of the mere innate habits.

A Peculiar Feeding Habit, "Hayanie, " of the Bull-headed Shrike

A Peculiar Feeding Habit, "Hayanie, " of the Bull-headed Shrike

An Example of Lanius bucephalus having eaten a Sparrow

An Example of Lanius bucephalus having eaten a Sparrow