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shrike

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
shrike  (shrk)
n.
Any of various carnivorous oscine birds of the family Laniidae, having a screeching call and a strong hooked bill with a toothlike projection and often impaling its prey on sharp-pointed thorns or barbs of wire fencing.
[Probably from Middle English *shrik, from Old English scrc, thrush.]
shrike
Noun
a bird with a heavy hooked bill, which kills small animals by dashing them on thorns [Old English scrīc thrush]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.shrikeshrike - any of numerous Old World birds having a strong hooked bill that feed on smaller animals
oscine, oscine bird - passerine bird having specialized vocal apparatus
family Laniidae, Laniidae - shrikes
butcherbird - shrikes that impale their prey on thorns
Lanius lucovicianus, loggerhead shrike - a common shrike of southeastern United States having black bands around the eyes
Lanius ludovicianus migrans, migrant shrike - a shrike of central North America; winters in Texas and the southern Mississippi valley
bush shrike - an African shrike
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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
In our own country the larger titmouse (Parus major) may be seen climbing branches, almost like a creeper; it often, like a shrike, kills small birds by blows on the head; and I have many times seen and heard it hammering the seeds of the yew on a branch, and thus breaking them like a nuthatch.
The Origin of Species by Darwin, Charles View in context
In its structure it closely approaches the true shrikes, but in its habits may be compared to many birds.
The Voyage of the Beagle by Darwin, Charles View in context
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