shrike
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The great grey shrike. Shrikes are often referred to as ‘butcher birds’ because of their habit of impaling their prey on thorns in a gruesome larder. Shrikes are found in a variety of habitats in many parts of the world. As well as insects, shrikes will attack and kill small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even other birds.
Bird of the family Laniidae, of which there are over 70 species, living mostly in Africa, but also in Eurasia and North America. They often impale insects and small vertebrates on thorns. They can grow to 35 cm/14 in long, have grey, black, or brown plumage, sharply clawed feet, and hooked beaks.
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