Lanius excubitor

Lanius excubitor
    n 1: a common European butcherbird [syn: {European shrike},
         {Lanius excubitor}]
    

Shrike \Shrike\, n. [Akin to Icel. skr[imac]kja a shrieker, the
   shrike, and E. shriek; cf. AS. scr[imac]c a thrush. See
   {Shriek}, v. 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}.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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}.
         [1913 Webster]

   {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}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

butcher bird \butcher bird\, butcher-bird \butcher-bird\,
butcherbird \butcherbird\n.
   1. (Zool.) any species of shrike of the genus {Lanius}, so
      called because they impale their prey on thorns.
      [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

   2. (Zool.) large carnivorous Australian bird with the
      shrikelike habit of impaling prey on thorns.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   Note: The {Lanius excubitor} is the common butcher bird of
         Europe. In England, the bearded tit is sometimes called
         the {lesser butcher bird}. The American species are
         {Lanius borealis}, or {northern butcher bird}, and
         {Lanius Ludovicianus} or {loggerhead shrike}. The name
         butcher bird is derived from its habit of suspending
         its prey impaled upon thorns, after killing it.
         [1913 Webster]