Tag: shrikes

alithographica:

I chose to draw an impaled insect to keep the image relatively tame, but there are some gnarly photos of impaled lizards and mice out there. They’re easily found on Google if you’re curious.

Fun only-tangentially-related fact: Parrots also have a slight tomial tooth.

Extra fun fact: Falcons are more related to parrots than they are to hawks and eagles. (Falcons and parrots are still very distant, but a weird finding nonetheless!)

Transcript below the cut.

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If you ever find barbed wire or a thornbush or something like that with small animals impaled on it, it’s probably one of these guys responsible. They usually kill their prey before impaling it, the impaling is just to keep it out of reach of thieves for later. Also for the reasons listed above. 

Also, loggerhead shrikes are little round guys and are far cuter than you’d expect them to be.

eartharchives:

This Tiny Songbird Rolls Its Head to Break Its Victim’s Neck

Shrikes kill mice by repeatedly biting the weak point at the base of their necks.

These guys are called butcherbirds because, in addition to THAT, they impale their dead prey (insects, lizards, small mice, etc) on thorns or barbed wire. This is partially to store it out of reach of thieves, partially so they can keep it on the thorn and pull it apart to more easily swallow it.