shrike

views updated May 14 2018

shrike / shrīk/ • n. a songbird (family Laniidae) with a strong sharply hooked bill, often impaling its prey of small birds, lizards, and insects on thorns. Also called butcherbird.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

shrike

views updated May 29 2018

shrike (butcherbird) Small, perching bird found worldwide, except in South America and Australia. It dives at its prey – insects, small birds, mice – hitting them with its strong, hooked bill and then impaling them on a sharp fence post, twig or thorn. Family Laniidae.

World Encyclopedia

shrike

views updated May 09 2018

shrike XVI. of obscure orig.; corr. formations are OE. sċrīċ thrush, MLG. schrīk corncrake, rel. to vbs. cited under SHRIEK.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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