Shrike
Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family has 31 species in three genera. The family name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher". Some shrikes were also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. This is because shrike sometimes sticks its prey on a thorn, as on a meat hook.[1] This makes it easier for them to feed on it.
| Shrikes | |
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| File:Juvenile Long-tailed Fiscals.jpg | |
| A pair of Long-tailed Fiscals | |
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| Family: | Laniidae Rafinesque, 1815
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Distribution
Most shrike species live in Eurasia and Africa, with just two breeding in North America. There are no members of this family in South America or Australia, although one species reaches New Guinea.
The shrikes vary in the size of their ranges. Some species like the Great Grey Shrike range across the northern hemisphere, whereas Newton's Fiscal is restricted to the island of São Tomé.[2]
Shrike Media
- Shrike-provision pierced-lizard.jpeg
A lizard impaled on a thorn by a shrike for later consumption.
- Occhiocotto predato.jpg
A Sardinian warbler impaled by a shrike in Italy; shrikes sometimes use man-made spikes, such as barbed wire, in place of thorns.
- Southern White-crowned Shrike, Eurocephalus anguitimens, gleaning ants from the early morning soil at Marakele National Park, South Africa (13952312157).jpg
Southern White-crowned Shrike, Eurocephalus anguitimens, gleaning ants from the early morning soil at Marakele National Park, South Africa (13952312157)
Loggerhead Shrike florida RWD6
References
- ↑ "shrike (bird) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". britannica.com. 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ↑ Yosef, Reuven (2008). "Family Laniidae (Shrikes)". In Josep, del Hoyo; Andrew, Elliott; David, Christie (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World, volume 13, Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 732–773. ISBN 978-84-96553-45-3.
Other websites
- Shrike videos Archived 2012-02-29 at the Wayback Machine on the Internet Bird Collection