Shrikes have a hooked beak that enables them to catch small animals and insects. They often impale their meals on thorns which explains the derivation of their name from the Latin word for butcher. They sit upright on the tops of shrubs and other conspicuous perches to spot their prey and also to advertise their presence to competitors. Their coloring is drab. Most shrikes are located in Africa, Europe, and Asia. They are closely related to the bush-shrikes and helmet-shrikes, but not to the cuckoo-shrikes. The live in relatively open spaces.


Genus Lanius

Shrike, Lesser Grey Lanius minor Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by Dick Daniels - Tanzania


Shrike, Northern aka Great Grey Shrike aka Northern Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor  Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Marek Szczepanek - Poland  3)  Trebol-a - Spain


Shrike, Red-backed Lanius collurio  Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by:  1, 8) Arno Meintjes  2, 6) Frank Vassen - Poland  3)  Hajotthu 
    4, 5) Dick Daniels - Tanzania  7) Artur Mikolajewski - Poland
1) Juvenile  2, 3, 4, 5) Female  6, 7, 8) Male



Shrike, Southern Grey  Found: Europe, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Anders Olsson - Oman  2) Juan  Emilio


Shrike, Woodchat  Lanius senator  Found: Europe, Africa
Photographed by:   Causinho - Spain