lanius borealis

3 definitions found

lanius borealis - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Shrike \Shrike\, n. [Akin to Icel. skr[imac]kja a shrieker, the
     shrike, and E. shriek; cf. AS. scr[imac]c a thrush. See
     Shriek, v. i.] (Zool.)
     Any one of numerous species of oscinine birds of the family
     Laniidae, having a strong hooked bill, toothed at the tip.
     Most shrikes are insectivorous, but the common European gray
     shrike (Lanius excubitor), the great northern shrike
     (Lanius borealis), and several others, kill mice, small
     birds, etc., and often impale them on thorns, and are, on
     that account called also butcher birds. See under
     Butcher.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The ant shrikes, or bush shrikes, are clamatorial birds
           of the family Formicaridae. The cuckoo shrikes of the
           East Indies and Australia are Oscines of the family
           Campephagidae. The drongo shrikes of the same regions
           belong to the related family Dicruridae. See
           Drongo.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Crow shrike. See under Crow.
  
     Shrike thrush.
     (a) Any one of several species of Asiatic timaline birds of
         the genera Thamnocataphus, Gampsorhynchus, and
         allies.
     (b) Any one of several species of shrikelike Australian
         singing birds of the genus Colluricincla.
  
     Shrike tit.
     (a) Any one of several Australian birds of the genus
         Falcunculus, having a strong toothed bill and sharp
         claws. They creep over the bark of trees, like titmice,
         in search of insects.
     (b) Any one of several species of small Asiatic birds
         belonging to Allotrius, Pteruthius, Cutia,
         Leioptila, and allied genera, related to the true tits.
         Called also hill tit.
  
     Swallow shrike. See under Swallow.
        [1913 Webster]

  butcher bird \butcher bird\, butcher-bird \butcher-bird\,
  butcherbird \butcherbird\n.
     1. (Zool.) any species of shrike of the genus Lanius, so
        called because they impale their prey on thorns.
        [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
  
     2. (Zool.) large carnivorous Australian bird with the
        shrikelike habit of impaling prey on thorns.
        [WordNet 1.5]
  
     Note: The Lanius excubitor is the common butcher bird of
           Europe. In England, the bearded tit is sometimes called
           the lesser butcher bird. The American species are
           Lanius borealis, or northern butcher bird, and
           Lanius Ludovicianus or loggerhead shrike. The name
           butcher bird is derived from its habit of suspending
           its prey impaled upon thorns, after killing it.
           [1913 Webster]

lanius borealis - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Lanius borealis
      n 1: a butcherbird of northern North America [syn: northern shrike
           , Lanius borealis]