Lanius
Encyclopedia
Lanius, the typical shrikes, are a genus of passerine
bird
s in the shrike
family. The majority of the family's species
are placed in this genus. African species are known as fiscals. That name comes from the Afrikaans
word fiskaal ("public official", especially a hangman
), because they hang their prey on thorns for storage.
Most Lanius species occur in Eurasia
and Africa
, but the Great Grey Shrike
has a circumpolar distribution, and the Loggerhead Shrike
is confined to North America
. There are no members of this genus or the shrike family in South America
or Australia
.
Lanius shrikes are birds of open habitats typically seen perched upright on a prominent perch like a treetop or a telegraph pole. They sally out for prey, taken in flight or the ground. These species primarily take large insects, but will also take small birds, reptiles and mammals. For large northern species such as the Great Grey, the majority of the prey will be vertebrates, especially in winter.
Despite their diet, these are not true birds of prey
, and lack the strong talons of the raptors. Though they use their feet to hold smaller insects, larger prey items are impaled upon a sharp point, such as a thorn or the barbs of barbed wire. Thus secured they can be ripped open with the hooked bill.
Most Lanius shrikes are solitary, except when breeding and highly territorial. Northern or temperate species such as the Great Grey and Red-backed Shrike
s are migratory
and winter well south of the breeding range.
The sexes of most species are distinguishable, the male invariably being the brighter bird where there is a difference.
There are some natural groupings within the genus, such as the seven African fiscals, the large grey species (ludovicianus, excubitor, meridionalis and sphenocercus) and the Eurasian brown-backed species (tigrinus, bucephalus, collurio, isabellinus, cristatus and gubernator). In the last group in particular, it has been difficult to define species’ boundaries, and in the past several of these shrike have been lumped as conspecific.
The prehistoric shrike Lanius miocaenus has been described from Early Miocene
fossils found at Langy
, France
, though its placement in this genus is not universally accepted due to its fairly high age.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the shrike
Shrike
Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family is composed of thirty-one species in three genera. The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes were also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits...
family. The majority of the family's species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are placed in this genus. African species are known as fiscals. That name comes from the Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
word fiskaal ("public official", especially a hangman
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
), because they hang their prey on thorns for storage.
Most Lanius species occur in Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, but the Great Grey Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
The Great Grey Shrike or Northern Grey Shrike is a large songbird species in the shrike family . It forms a superspecies with its parapatric southern relatives, the Southern Grey Shrike , the Chinese Grey Shrike and the Loggerhead Shrike...
has a circumpolar distribution, and the Loggerhead Shrike
Loggerhead Shrike
The Loggerhead Shrike is a passerine bird. It is the only member of the shrike family endemic to North America; the related Northern Shrike occurs north of its range but also in the Palearctic....
is confined to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. There are no members of this genus or the shrike family in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
or Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Lanius shrikes are birds of open habitats typically seen perched upright on a prominent perch like a treetop or a telegraph pole. They sally out for prey, taken in flight or the ground. These species primarily take large insects, but will also take small birds, reptiles and mammals. For large northern species such as the Great Grey, the majority of the prey will be vertebrates, especially in winter.
Despite their diet, these are not true birds of prey
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
, and lack the strong talons of the raptors. Though they use their feet to hold smaller insects, larger prey items are impaled upon a sharp point, such as a thorn or the barbs of barbed wire. Thus secured they can be ripped open with the hooked bill.
Most Lanius shrikes are solitary, except when breeding and highly territorial. Northern or temperate species such as the Great Grey and Red-backed Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
The Red-backed Shrike is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae.English common names include 'Wariangle' and 'worrier'.-Description:...
s are migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
and winter well south of the breeding range.
The sexes of most species are distinguishable, the male invariably being the brighter bird where there is a difference.
There are some natural groupings within the genus, such as the seven African fiscals, the large grey species (ludovicianus, excubitor, meridionalis and sphenocercus) and the Eurasian brown-backed species (tigrinus, bucephalus, collurio, isabellinus, cristatus and gubernator). In the last group in particular, it has been difficult to define species’ boundaries, and in the past several of these shrike have been lumped as conspecific.
The prehistoric shrike Lanius miocaenus has been described from Early Miocene
Early Miocene
The Early Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages....
fossils found at Langy
Langy
Langy is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, though its placement in this genus is not universally accepted due to its fairly high age.
Species in taxonomic order
- Tiger ShrikeTiger ShrikeThe Tiger Shrike or Thick-billed Shrike is a small passerine bird which belongs to the genus Lanius in the shrike family, Laniidae. It is found in wooded habitats across eastern Asia. It is a shy, often solitary bird which is less conspicuous than most other shrikes. Like other shrikes it is...
, Lanius tigrinus - Bull-headed ShrikeBull-headed ShrikeThe Bull-headed Shrike is a passerine bird of eastern Asia belonging to the shrike family Laniidae.It is 19-20 cm long. The male has a brown crown, white eyebrow and black mask. The back is grey-brown while the wings are dark with a white patch. The flanks are rufous and the rest of the...
, Lanius bucephalus - Red-backed ShrikeRed-backed ShrikeThe Red-backed Shrike is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae.English common names include 'Wariangle' and 'worrier'.-Description:...
Lanius collurio - Isabelline ShrikeIsabelline ShrikeThe Isabelline Shrike is a member of the shrike family . It is the eastern equivalent of the Red-backed Shrike with which it used to be considered conspecific....
Lanius isabellinus - Brown ShrikeBrown ShrikeThe Brown Shrike is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the Red-backed Shrike and Isabelline Shrike . Like most other shrikes, it has a distinctive black "bandit-mask" through the eye...
, Lanius cristatus - Burmese ShrikeBurmese ShrikeThe Burmese Shrike is a species of bird in the Laniidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Lanius collurioides - Emin's ShrikeEmin's ShrikeThe Emin's Shrike is a species of bird in the Laniidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda....
, Lanius gubernator - Souza's ShrikeSouza's ShrikeThe Souza's Shrike is a species of bird in the Laniidae family. It was named after J.A. de Souza, a 19th century Portuguese zoologist....
, Lanius souzae - Bay-backed ShrikeBay-backed ShrikeThe Bay-backed Shrike, Lanius vittatus, is a member of the bird family Laniidae, the shrikes, resident in South Asia.-Description:It is smallish shrike at 17 cm, maroon-brown above with a pale rump and long black tail with white edges. The underparts are white, but with buff flanks.The crown...
, Lanius vittatus - Rufous-backed Shrike Lanius schach
- Grey-backed ShrikeGrey-backed ShrikeThe Grey-backed Shrike is a species of bird in the Laniidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.-References:...
Lanius tephronotus - Mountain ShrikeMountain ShrikeThe Mountain Shrike is a species of bird in the Laniidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International...
or Grey-capped Shrike, Lanius validirostris - Lesser Grey ShrikeLesser Grey ShrikeThe Lesser Grey Shrike is a member of the shrike family Laniidae.It is similar in appearance to the Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor and the Southern Grey Shrike L. meridionalis...
Lanius minor - Loggerhead ShrikeLoggerhead ShrikeThe Loggerhead Shrike is a passerine bird. It is the only member of the shrike family endemic to North America; the related Northern Shrike occurs north of its range but also in the Palearctic....
, Lanius ludovicianus - Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor
- Southern Grey ShrikeSouthern Grey ShrikeThe Southern Grey Shrike, Lanius meridionalis, is a member of the shrike family.It is closely related to the Great Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor, with which it used to be considered conspecific; where they co-occur, they do not interbreed and are separated by choice of habitat.The race L. m....
Lanius meridionalis - Chinese Grey ShrikeChinese Grey ShrikeThe Chinese Grey Shrike is a species of bird in the Laniidae family.It is found in China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia.Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-External links:*...
, Lanius sphenocercus - Grey-backed FiscalGrey-backed FiscalThe Grey-backed Fiscal is a species of bird in the Laniidae family.It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and...
, Lanius excubitoroides - Long-tailed FiscalLong-tailed FiscalThe Long-tailed Fiscal is a species of bird in the shrike family Laniidae. The species is closely related to the more widespread Grey-backed Fiscal and is sometimes placed in a separate subgenus, Neolanius, with that species...
, Lanius cabanisi - Taita FiscalTaita FiscalThe Taita Fiscal, Lanius dorsalis, is a member of the shrike family found in east Africa, from southeastern Sudan and southern Ethiopia to northeastern Tanzania. Its habitat is dry open thornbush and acacia and other dry open woodland.-Description:...
, Lanius dorsalis - Somali FiscalSomali FiscalThe Somali Fiscal is a species of bird in the Laniidae family.It is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-References:...
, Lanius somalicus - Mackinnon's ShrikeMackinnon's ShrikeMackinnon's Shrike , also called Mackinnon's Fiscal, is a songbird species of the family Laniidae.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.Its natural habitats are...
, Lanius mackinnoni - Common FiscalCommon FiscalThe Common Fiscal is a member of the shrike family found through most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also sometimes named Fiscal Shrike, as well as Jackie Hangman or Butcher Bird due to its habit of impaling its prey on acacia thorns to store the food for later consumption. It is sometimes split...
, Lanius collaris - Newton's Fiscal, Lanius newtoni
- Uhehe Shrike, Lanius marwitzi
- Woodchat ShrikeWoodchat ShrikeThe Woodchat Shrike is a member of the shrike family Laniidae.The Woodchat breeds in southern Europe, the Middle East and northwest Africa, and winters in tropical Africa. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with orchard trees and some bare or sandy ground.This migratory medium-sized...
, Lanius senator - Masked ShrikeMasked ShrikeThe Masked Shrike, Lanius nubicus, is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It breeds in southeastern Europe and the eastern end of the Mediterranean, with a separate population in western Iran. It is a common species in Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Syria...
, Lanius nubicus