Jeff Wendorff's bird photography portfolio of
shrikes from the family, Laniidae
Shrike Wiki Shrikes are carnivorous passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family is composed of thirty-one species in four genera. They are fairly closely related to the bush-shrike family Malaconotidae.
The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some
shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc , "shriek", referring to the shrill call.
Most shrike species have a Eurasian and African distribution, with just two breeding in North America (the loggerhead and great grey shrikes). There are no members of this family in South America or Australia, although one species reaches New Guinea. The
shrikes vary in the extent of their ranges, with some species like the great grey shrike ranging across the Northern Hemisphere to the Newton's fiscal which is restricted to the island of São Tomé.
They inhabit open habitats, especially steppe and savannah. A few species of
shrike are forest dwellers, seldom occurring in open habitats. Some species breed in northern latitudes during the summer, then migrate to warmer climes for the winter.
Shrikes are medium-sized birds, up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in length, with grey, brown, or black and white plumage. Their beaks are hooked, like that of a bird of prey, reflecting their predatory nature, and their calls are strident.
Shrikes Photographed Black-backed Puffback, Dryoscopus cubla
Black-crowned Tchagra, Tchagra senegalus
Grey-backed Fiscal, Lanius excubitoroides
Isabelline Shrike, Lanius isabellinus
Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
Long-tailed Fiscal, Lanius cabanisi
Magpie Shrike, Corvinella melanoleucus
Northern White-crowned Shrike, Eurocephalus ruppelli
Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio
Southern Fiscal, Lanius collaris Collective Noun - ShrikesThere are 2 collective nouns for shrikes, an abattoir and a watch. Guess which one I prefer! Photography Workshops and Tours
Birds, Birds, and more Birds. Come join one of my birds workshops and we'll get you some cool new birds for your portfolio and help make you a better bird photographer. Fly over to
Wildlife Workshops for more information.
