Interspecific nest use by Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

ABSTRACT Nest reuse is a relatively uncommon practice among passerines, particularly among multiple species. In June 2016 we documented a Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) nest in the Upper Green River Basin, Wyoming, being reused by a Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) pair within the same season. The shrikes made structural changes to the nest, including removing nearly all sticks supporting the nest's exterior. The repurposing of an open-cup nest by a Loggerhead Shrike within the same breeding season has never been documented, and interspecific nest reuse by passerines in general is rare. The pervasiveness of this behavior, however, is poorly understood because instances are likely underreported.