loading...

Shrikes

Shrikes, commonly known as butcherbirds due to their carnivorous feeding habits, belong to the family Laniidae which includes 34 species across four genera. These medium-sized passerine birds with hooked beaks are most commonly found in Eurasian and African open habitats like steppes and savannas, and a few species also dwell in forests. Two shrike species breed in North America, none in South America or Australia; one reaches New Guinea. Their appearance varies, with most between 16 to 25 centimeters in length, and some, like the Corvinella genus, have elongated tail-feathers extending up to 50 centimeters. Their strident calls match their predatory nature. Shrikes are known for their unique behavior of impaling prey on sharp objects, making it easier to tear the flesh and storing it for later consumption. They are territorial, monogamous (with some instances of polygyny), and some species exhibit cooperative breeding. Males attract females by displaying food caches and performing courtship dances, and they build simple, cup-shaped nests from twigs and grasses. Although there are various other birds with "shrike" in their name, only the members of the family Laniidae are considered true shrikes, with other similarly named birds belonging to separate families.

Regions

A photo of a Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) , male
Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus
A photo of a Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) , male
Daurian Shrike
Lanius isabellinus
A photo of a Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor
A photo of a Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)
Iberian Grey Shrike
Lanius meridionalis
A photo of a Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor)
Lesser Grey Shrike
Lanius minor
A photo of a Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
Long-tailed Shrike
Lanius schach
A photo of a Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) , male
Masked Shrike
Lanius nubicus
A photo of a Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis)
Northern Shrike
Lanius borealis
A photo of a Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) , male
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurio
A photo of a Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) , male
Turkestan Shrike
Lanius phoenicuroides
A photo of a Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) , male
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senator
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
1

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Species Categories

AccentorsAfrican & New World ParrotsAlbatrossesAnhingas, DartersAuksAustral Storm PetrelsAustralasian WarblersBarn OwlsBearded ReedlingBee-eatersBuntingsBushshrikesBushtitsBustardsButtonquailCaracaras, FalconsCardinals & AlliesCettia Bush Warblers & AlliesChats, Old World FlycatchersCisticolas & AlliesCormorants, ShagsCoursers, PratincolesCranesCrows, JaysCuckoosDippersDucks, Geese, SwansFigbirds, Orioles, TurnagraFinches, EuphoniasFlamingosFrigatebirdsGannets, BoobiesGoldcrests, KingletsGrassbirds & AlliesGrebesGuineafowlGulls, Terns, SkimmersHerons, BitternsIbises, SpoonbillsKingfishersKites, Hawks, EaglesLarksLaughingthrushes & AlliesLeaf Warblers & AlliesLongspurs, Snow BuntingsLoonsMockingbirds, ThrashersNew World QuailNew World SparrowsNew World WarblersNightjarsNorthern Storm PetrelsNuthatchesOld World ParrotsOld World Sparrows, SnowfinchesOropendolas, Orioles, BlackbirdsOspreysOwlsOystercatchersPelicansPenduline TitsPetrels, Shearwaters, Diving PetrelsPheasants & AlliesPigeons, DovesPloversRails, Crakes & CootsReed Warblers & AlliesRollersSandgrouseSandpipers, SnipesShrikesSkuasStarlings, RhabdornisStilts, AvocetsStone-curlews, Thick-kneesStorksSwallows, MartinsSwiftsSylviid BabblersThrushesTits, ChickadeesTreecreepersTropicbirdsTyrant Flycatchers, CalypturaVireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblersWagtails, PipitsWallcreeperWaxbills, Munias & AlliesWaxwingsWeavers, WidowbirdsWoodpeckersWrensYellow-breasted Chat
Birda Blog
What Our Birders Say
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Safira V
Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.

As featured in

Connect with nature,
Find your flock
Download Birda - QR Code
© 2024 All rights reserved