butcher bird
Thorn-using predator
A butcher bird is any of several shrikes—small predatory songbirds that impale insects, lizards, and small birds on thorns or barbed wire to store them or tear them apart for eating.
The name comes from this butcher-like habit of hanging prey.
In Australia, the term also applies to unrelated birds with similar behavior.
Pierce and hold fast
- thornPointed plant projection
- spikeSharp rise or point
- barbed wireSpiked metal fence material
- larderCool food storage room
cache · skewer · pantry · fence post · store · acacia · bramble · display
Prey-impaling songbird
- loggerheadFool or turtle species
- fiscalOf public revenue
- impalerOne who pierces through
- perchResting spot for birds
songbird · passerine · avian · plumage · feathers · beak · wings · nest
Animal being hunted
- huntPursuit of quarry
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- pounceSudden attack leap
insectivore · lizards · rodents · beetles · grasshoppers · nestlings · swoop · strike
Land under jurisdiction
- defendProtect from harm
- intruderUnauthorized person present
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- domainArea of control
patrol · home range · guard · aggression · dominance · claim · perimeter · marking
Informal substitute name
- gruesomeCausing horror and disgust
- macabreDisturbing, death-obsessed
- grislyShockingly horrific
- legendUnverified traditional tale
rural · superstition · omen · cunning · clever
Producing sounds with voice
- imitationCopy of the original
- mimicOne who copies others
- mockingbirdSound-copying songbird
- copycatOne who mimics another
repertoire · call · song · duet · kookaburra · echo · simulate · whistling
impale
Pierce and hold fast
- thornPointed plant projection
- spikeSharp rise or point
- barbed wireSpiked metal fence material
larder · cache · skewer · pantry · fence post · store · acacia · bramble · display · hooked beak
shrike
Prey-impaling songbird
- loggerheadFool or turtle species
- fiscalOf public revenue
- impalerOne who pierces through
perch · songbird · passerine · avian · plumage · feathers · beak · wings · nest · fledgling
prey
Animal being hunted
pounce · insectivore · lizards · rodents · beetles · grasshoppers · nestlings · swoop · strike · raptor-like
territory
Land under jurisdiction
domain · patrol · home range · guard · aggression · dominance · claim · perimeter · marking · sentinel
nickname
Informal substitute name
vocalization
Producing sounds with voice
- imitationCopy of the original
- mimicOne who copies others
- mockingbirdSound-copying songbird
copycat · repertoire · call · song · duet · kookaburra · echo · simulate · whistling · melodious
butcher birdfrugivore
Animal eating mainly fruit
nectar-feeder · hummingbird · finch · sparrow · canary
butcher birddove
Gentle cooing bird
songbird · lovebird · turtle dove · mourning dove · robin
butcher, bird, butchers, butchery, butchered, butchering, birds, birded, birding