| Shrikes | |
|---|---|
| |
| Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily: | Corvoidea |
| Family: | Laniidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Genera | |
Shrikes (/ʃraɪk/) are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family is composed of 34 species in two genera.
The family name, Lanis means butcher (or Laniare to tear to pieces). This name was given to them due to the fact that they impale their prey on thorns and sharp twigs. They once had the common name of Butcher-Bird, however in modern times are more often referred to as shrikes due to the noise they make. The Butcher-Bird name is now more commonly used for the Artamidae family.[1]
The common English name shrike is from Old English scrīc, alluding to the shrike's shriek-like call.[2]
- ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 219. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ "Shrike". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)