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Webster 1913 Edition
Shrike
Shrike
,Noun.
[Akin to Icel. ]
skrīkja
a shrieker, the shrike, and E. shriek
; cf. AS. scrīc
a thrush. See Shriek
, Verb.
I.
(Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of oscinine birds of the family
Laniidae
, having a strong hooked bill, toothed at the tip. Most shrikes are insectivorous, but the common European gray shrike (Lanius excubitor
), the great northern shrike (Lanius borealis
), and several others, kill mice, small birds, etc., and often impale them on thorns, and are, on that account called also butcher birds
. See under Butcher
. ☞ The ant shrikes, or bush shrikes, are clamatorial birds of the family
Formicaridae
. The cuckoo shrikes of the East Indies and Australia are Oscines of the family Campephagidae
. The drongo shrikes of the same regions belong to the related family Dicruridae
. See Drongo
. Crow shrike
. See under
– Crow
. Shrike thrush
. (a)
Any one of several species of Asiatic timaline birds of the genera
. Thamnocataphus
, Gampsorhynchus
, and allies(b)
Any one of several species of shrikelike Australian singing birds of the genus
– Colluricincla
. Shrike tit
. (a)
Any one of several Australian birds of the genus
Falcunculus
, having a strong toothed bill and sharp claws. They creep over the bark of trees, like titmice, in search of insects. (b)
Any one of several species of small Asiatic birds belonging to
– Allotrius
, Pteruthius
, Cutia
, Leioptila
, and allied genera, related to the true tits. Called also hill tit
. Swallow shrike
. See under
Swallow
.Webster 1828 Edition
Shrike
SHRIKE
,Noun.
Definition 2024
shrike
shrike
English
Noun
shrike (plural shrikes)
- Any of various passerine birds of the family Laniidae which are known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns.
Derived terms
Synonyms
Translations
Any of various passerine birds of the family Laniidae
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