Transcript:

Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing shrikes. There are a few dozen living species of shrikes in the world. Most of them are found in Africa, though these birds can also be seen in Asia, Europe, and North America, though they’re distinctly lacking in Australia, South America, and Madagascar. There are other birds commonly known as bushshrikes, cuckooshrikes, and helmetshrikes, but since they’ve recently been classified into their own groups separate from “true” shrikes, we’ll leave them for a future discussion. “True” shrikes are classified in the family Laniidae and are currently believed to be somewhat related to crows and ravens. Shrikes may be found in a range of habitats from sea level to more than three miles (5,000m) in elevation in mountainous regions. They live in forests, open country, and even urban parks and gardens, though they do typically require some sort of perching area, such as a tree, bush, or even telephone pole, in their habitat. Shrikes are classified in the “perching birds” order in which more than half the living bird species are classified. This order is sometimes known as the “songbird” order, but the shrike is the perfect example of why that common name is considered erroneous - many people find the shrike’s “song” as nothing more than shrieking; and, in fact, the name “shrike” is thought to come from the shriek-like calls that these birds make - which sound something like this.

Shrikes are also known as butcher birds. This common name comes from how these birds interact with their prey. Shrikes range in size from 6 to 12 inches (15-32cm) in length including their tails. Some of them are literally called long-tailed shrikes, afterall. In weight, they may be anywhere from just over half an ounce to more than three and a half ounces (20-100g). For reference, a tennis ball weighs about two ounces. Their weight is important to note because some shrikes are able to carry up to three times their weight while flying - meaning they can take on some sizable meals. Shrikes are sit and wait predators that scan their surroundings from a perch about 3 to 30 feet (1-10m) off the ground. These birds frequently take arthropods such as beetles, mantids, spiders, and grasshoppers, but they may also take larger prey like small vertebrates including rodents, lizards, and small snakes! Shrikes can even de-sting bees and wasps by grabbing these insects by their abdomens and rubbing their rear ends on a perch. If you think that seems rough, just wait, there’s more. Shrikes will also keep personal pantries from which they can eat for days. These birds will take prey items and skewer them on plant thorns and even barbed wire fences. This food may be returned to days later for the shrike to consume at its pleasure, though sometimes they won’t even return to their banquettes!

While all shrikes have raptor-like bills that come in handy for their butchering behavior, males and females may look quite similar or drastically different; it all depends on the species. Those living in higher latitudes will travel south for the Winter, however, those living closer to the tropics are usually year round residents. Shrikes typically breed during the warmer months and defend their nesting territory. Their nests may be on the ground, in trees, or in shrubs and generally two to eight eggs are laid. These eggs are typically incubated by females as males are on defense duty. It takes about two to three weeks for the eggs to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another two to three weeks. They’ll be on their own within two months and begin breeding the following year. The greatest threat to shrikes are predators including goshawks, falcons, lizards, foxes, crows, and more. They can also fall from exhaustion during their migrations or suffer from habitat loss and consumption of pesticides in their invertebrate prey. If they can avoid these challenges, however, shrikes may live to be more than 10 years old.

For more facts on shrikes, check out the link in the description. Thank you to ghoti, parasitic graffiti, and kafanereye for today’s request! Give a thumbs up if you learned something new today, and thank you for watching Animal Fact Files!