Yusuke Nishida, a specially appointed lecturer at Osaka City University, explains why shrikes impale their prey on thorns at the university in Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Ward. A shrike impales its prey on a sharp thorn. Northern and loggerhead shrikes are just two of the 33 shrike species worldwide. Scientists discovered this unique technique by analyzing high-speed video of hunting shrikes to figure out just how they kill large rodents. Right: A northern shrike. Shrikes will even impale their prey on the spikes of a barbed wire fence. Your source for becoming a better birder. Northern shrikes have, unsurprisingly, a more northerly range. Then the shrike attacked the carcass (below), bringing it back to its chicks in the nearby nest. Leaving the insects out to dry for a few days allows the toxins to degrade, making them safe to eat. Shrikes eat, well, just about anything. They use the notched bill to kill prey. Then they impale the animal to both immobilize and kill it. 1. (Loggerheads will also hover-hunt, like kestrels, or flash their wing patches to startle prey out of hiding.). • They lack strong feet for holding prey and so impale their prey to eat it more easily. Shrikes frequently impale their prey on thorns or barbed wire to facilitate dining and may stash their prey to retrieve it later. It brought the prey back to a thorny palm where it impaled it on a long, sharp spine (above). Getting a good look at that band is key to telling the species apart: Loggerheads have a slightly chunkier body and a thicker band that covers the top of bill. In winter they migrate south, ranging through the northern half of the continental US. They sometimes get creative with their villainy, using barbed-wire fencing to skewer prey. They’re commonly seen along roads, searching for prey along the mowed strip of grass. Once their prey is captured, they will impale their catch on a thorn, barb wire, or even branches in small bushes. In the southern US, shrikes prey on the toxic lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera. Their method is to carry prey to a convenient thorny bush (or, if you’re in cattle county, a barbed-wire fence) and impale it there. However, often, instead of eating their prey immediately, not by accident the shrike grabs its prey and impales it on a thorn or the barb of a wire--which holds it firmly in place as he rips it into bite-size pieces. The family is composed of 33 species in four genera. To immobilize large prey items, the Loggerhead Shrike impales them on sharp objects such as thorns and barbed wire, or tucks them into forks between branches. We’ve served up a few tasty morsels to show why this bird is one that would give even Alfred Hitchcock nightmares.. Shrikes (including loggerhead shrikes) definitely impale any prey too large for them to eat in one bite, such as small birds and large bugs, on thorns so they can easily kill, store, and eat it. (They venture a bit farther south in the western states, to around the Colorado-New Mexico border). Shrikes impale their prey by hanging it on thorny things. Shrike definition is - any of numerous usually largely gray or brownish oscine birds (family Laniidae) that have a hooked bill, feed chiefly on insects, and often impale their prey on thorns. The tiny vicious killer of the bird world: Shrike impales its victims on a SPIKE Shrikes can't hold onto prey to eat, so they impale them on nearby spikes Why can’t it simply gulp down its prey like others? habitat loss, insecticides, and cars. The theory is that the Shrikes claws are to small to hold its prey while it eats therefor impaling serves the purpose! Once their prey is impaled they can proceed with ripping off bite-size pieces to eat. Once the unfortunate animal is firmly attached and appropriately subdued, shrikes then tear their prey apart. Tags: Birds, Traveling Naturalist, Weird Nature, Justine E. Hausheer is an award-winning science writer for The Nature Conservancy, covering the innovative research conducted by the Conservancy’s scientists in the Asia Pacific region. Photo © Mick Thompson / Flickr. knpan observed an interesting behaviour of a Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) in Singapore.The bird suddenly flew to a grassy area and caught a lizard. This allows a shrike to pull the prey apart with its bill into portions that can be swallowed. So, the next time that you see what looks like a … Diet of the Iberian grey shrike. The second is holding a carcass steady so it can be ripped apart and consumed. Photo © cuatrok77 / Flickr. Leaving the insects out to dry for a few days allows the toxins to degrade, making them safe to eat. Hyperion. Other threats to loggerheads include vehicle collisions when they hunt near roads, the loss of hayfields and other pasturelands to development, other forms of habitat destruction, and changing prey populations due to livestock grazing. When shrikes’ vertebrate prey is impaled on a sharp object they are then usually decapitated and, in most cases, the brain consumed before other body parts. These videos have grabbed the Shrike into action. Shrikes will often leave partially eaten prey impaled throughout their territory for later consumption. The research reports on the genomes of 363 species of birds, including 267 that have been sequenced for the first time. Or he will use the sharp thorn to store it as one would hang up a piece of meat in a pantry, keeping it readily available for later ingestion in an easily convenient size. The impulse to impale is hard-wired into shrikes, and people have even observed juvenile shrikes practicing by impaling leaves on tree branches near their nest. As it turns out, this real-life murder mystery has a surprising avian culprit: the shrike. All rights reserved. A version of this article appeared in our August 2014 issue. The result is an array of dismantled corpses of lizards, small… We know much less about northern shrikes because they are relatively rare and occupy such remote habitats. Impaling its prey on stakes allows it to tear off bite-sized portions of flesh and save the rest for later. That might sound simple, until you learn that the back-and-forth whipping motion generates accelerations of up to 6 g-forces, or as Audubon describes, “roughly the same amount of force felt by passengers on high-g roller coasters, or the whiplash experienced by victims of low-speed, rear-end car crashes.”. Loggerhead shrikes often hunt prey as large as themselves, so the birds have a special hunting method for taking down these supersized meals. Subscribe. Both species regularly impale prey — often still alive — on spikes, thorns, or barbed wire, and leave them there for days or weeks. Check the blog of Jolle Jolles, the MUDFOOTED for a beautiful write up on this behavior. Fields with occasional trees. In this gallery I will show the unusual behavior of this diminutive Song Bird. This little bird small in size but large in Attitude,the Loggerhead Shrike. The first is defending itself, something shrikes accomplish by hovering above dangerous prey, attacking from behind, and biting at the base of the skull. Their method is to carry prey to a convenient thorny bush (or, if you’re in cattle county, a barbed-wire fence) and impale it there. Caches of prey thus lain away, also called “larders” or “pantries,” provide food stores during winter when prey is scarce, or in breeding season when energy demands are high. Most of the 33 species are found in Eurasia and Africa; there are just 2 in North America and one in New Guinea. Who killed them? What is the best habitat for loggerhead shrikes? Think again. Owl caught in Rockefeller Center Christmas tree flies free. Check ‘em. The Shrike:the ultimate killing machine that can stop time with a thought. Right: A northern shrike. Photo by Marek Szczepanek. This serves four purposes: First, sharp thorns take the place of the talons, allowing the bird to hold struggling prey while it eats. The theory is that the Shrikes claws are to small to hold its prey while it eats therefor impaling serves the purpose! Loggerhead shrike by Barbara Wheeler/USFWS. I'll answer the easy questions first. The desiccated lizard hangs lifeless on fence, impaled through the gut on a barbed-wire spike. practicing by impaling leaves on tree branches near their nest, analyzing high-speed video of hunting shrikes, Blue Jay: A New Look At a Common Feeder Bird. Then the shrike shakes its head back-and-forth to break the rat’s neck. The shrike is a butcher bird. Why does the Loggerhead Shrike impale its prey? Shrikes impale prey to eat or to impress ... Shrikes that do occur are found mostly in the winter months. Shrikes overcome this challenge in unique fashion: They impale their prey or wedge it between branches. So, the next time that you see what looks like a mockingbird, wearing a black Zorro mask, watch out! Both birds also have prominent white wing patches that are visible in flight and a black band through the eye. Also known as butcherbirds, loggerhead and northern shrikes leave a culinary horror show in their wake. Both species regularly impale prey — often still alive — on spikes, thorns, or barbed wire, and leave them there for days or weeks. So shrikes must impale their prey, especially larger prey such as sparrows or voles, onto thorns, branches, or barbed wire in order for them to eat it. 86,000 times. Shrikes are uncommon here. — there you have it – shrikes impale their “too-large-to-eat-all-at-once” prey, returning to it when convenient (unless a thief gets it while the shrike is elsewhere, not an unlikely contingency). Shrikes are basically nature’s version of Vlad the Impaler. The great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) is a large songbird species in the shrike family (Laniidae). A shrike impales its prey on a sharp thorn. Adaptations. (For more shrike ID tips, check out this guide from Audubon.). And why? © 2020 Madavor Media, LLC. But which species? They can’t do anything else. These animals impale their prey on thorny plants and even on barbed wire, after catching them. Left: A loggerhead shrike. The Loggerhead Shrike’s impaled prey – Nikon D200, handheld, f11, 1/45, ISO 250, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 200mm, natural light. This species of bird usually stalks its prey from high places such as branches or even power lines. If you would like to see it go to (Philip Rathner phase). Similar to birds of prey these birds have sharp hooked beaks, however, unlike the birds of prey, shrikes lack strong talons, and must impale prey in order to tear pieces off during feeding. 7. A small pricker bush can have an assortment of dead creature hanging from it. Note the narrow eye band that doesn’t extend over the eyes or above the bill. Yusuke Nishida, a specially appointed lecturer at Osaka City University, explains why shrikes impale their prey on thorns at the university in Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Ward. Hopefully, scientists and conservationists can pinpoint the causes of shrike decline before it’s too late. Shrike definition, any of numerous predaceous oscine birds of the family Laniidae, having a strong, hooked, and toothed bill, feeding on insects and sometimes on small birds and other animals: the members of certain species impale their prey on thorns or suspend it from the branches of trees to tear it apart more easily, and are said to kill more than is necessary for them to eat. But while ornithologists have long known that shrikes impale their prey, no one knew for certain how these songbirds managed to catch and kill relatively large vertebrates. In early January 2010, Kennie Pan a.k.a. They impale their meals — creatures such as mice, grasshoppers, and toads — on barbs and on thorns, tearing their food apart with their sharp, hooked beaks. If there’s nothing spikey at hand, shrikes will also wedge prey in the crook of a tree branch. In the summer they breed in Alaska and farther northern Canada, where the tundra meets the taiga. • Vertebrate prey are killed by biting the neck and severing the spine. While less gory birds feed on nuts and others peck at insects, shrikes impale their prey onto sharp spikes. Taking a lesson from butchers who hang their meat to dry, the Loggerhead Shrikes do the same with their food. Also, the fact that we performed this study in dense population might affect the signalling role of impaling behaviour, but … It brought the prey back to a thorny palm where it impaled it on a long, sharp spine (above). Note the thicker eye band. A shrike's cache can look pretty grim. Shrikes are nondescript and ubiquitous birds that have made a name for themselves as the leatherfaces of the animal kingdom. This serves four purposes: First, sharp thorns take the place of the talons, allowing the bird to hold struggling prey while it eats. Their family name, Laniidae, is derived from the Latin word for “butcher,” and shrikes are also known as butcherbirds. Justine's favorite stories take her into pristine forests, desolate deserts, or far-flung islands to report on field research as it's happening. A few meters away, a dead bee protrudes from another twist of metal. The species can be found in can be found in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Yup, this smart guy usually takes his food and hangs it on thorns of acacia tree or, the modern version of this bird hangs his food on barbed wire fences. Nearly all shrikes live in open habitats, and they all share the same general grey / brown / black and white coloration. Think of it as a Shrike’s pantry, they know just where to … Loggerheads will consume arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and even other birds. Ever wonder why shrikes impales their prey or wedge it between branches? • Shrikes typically impale their prey on thorns, but they will also use barbed wire. More from Justine. When the prey is dead, a shrike will fly to a convenient perch where the prey is either impaled on a sharp point or dragged and lodged into a fork of a branch . However, there is one group of songbirds that prey on vertebrate animals: the shrikes. With killer hunting moves and a diverse diet, you might think that shrikes are relatively safe from threats. Author has 614 answers and 3.1M answer views. We dive into the fascinating story behind shrikes and their grisly table manners. Hunting. Shrikes, being songbirds, don't have the talons of eagles or hawks to kill and tear apart other birds. When not writing, you can find her traipsing after birds, attempting to fish, and exploring the wild places around her home in Brisbane, Australia. Although shrikes do not have talons as raptors do, their feet are strong and can be used for seizing birds in flight. Data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey shows that, between 1966 and 2015, the species declined by almost 3 percent a year. These food caches are called “pantries” or “larders,” and they provide a critical source of food when prey is scarce in winter, or when the birds need extra nutrition during the summer breeding season. Field observations confirm that the ability to impale prey develops in the young of these species in the first 4–5 ... they develop individual variations in their prey handling. The result is an array of dismantled corpses of lizards, small… This species of bird usually stalks its prey from high places such as branches or even power lines. First, the shrike grabs the rodent from behind, clamping down at the base of neck and pinching the spinal cord to paralyze the animal. Ontogeny of impaling behavior in true shrikes, Laniidae. There are two types of shrike in North America, the loggerhead shrike and the northern shrike. Why do loggerhead shrikes impale their prey? That works out to a cumulative decline of 76 percent during the past 50 years. Why exactly does the loggerhead shrike go to so much trouble with its food? Loggerheads are found year-round in the bottom half of the continental United States, and in the summer they migrate north to the Rocky Mountain states and Midwest. Or, so it can save it for later – shrikes are known to keep ‘larders’ of impaled prey for when they feel peckish. Also known as butcherbirds, loggerhead and northern shrikes leave a culinary horror show in their wake. This little bird small in size but large in Attitude,the Loggerhead Shrike. It might look like a lightweight, but the shrike is a stone-cold killer. Famously, shrikes like to impale their prey on thorns, branches or barbed wire, a gruesome display that serves to keep the body steady so the bird can hack away at it with its powerful beak. While less gory birds feed on nuts and others peck at insects, shrikes impale their prey onto sharp spikes. In the southern US, shrikes prey on the toxic lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera. The thorns of the acacia tree are perfect for impaling prey, and they double as a pantry. Although a songbird, it behaves like a raptor when hunting. By spiking his assorted victims like an avian Vlad the Impaler he is hoping to attract a female with which to start a family. Butcherbird definition, any of various shrikes of the genus Lanius, which impale their prey upon thorns. Shrikes are carnivorous passerine birds of the family Laniidae. In fact, a shrike’s weak feet present two challenges to the bird. Yellow Jackets, ants, squirrels, racoons, and birds . That makes sense for birds that live up north where there are long periods of snow. Save over 25% and get all-access: print+iPad. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! 6. Because — as gruesome as it may seem — there’s something wonderful about finding a fence line decorated with little bodies, and knowing that a shrike lurks somewhere nearby. See more. (Nami Sugiura) Prev I'll answer the easy questions first. “These birds impale and hang their prey on barbed wire fences, thorny shrubs and broken branches, in order to effectively eat their oversized prey, affording them the nickname of ‘butcher bird,’” Fortney explains. 8. Patient. The second is holding a carcass steady so it can be ripped apart and consumed. The small bird preys on mice, lizards, and other birds. DanSimmons. For birders living in the continental US, here’s the (very) quick rule of thumb: if it’s summer, you’re definitely seeing a loggerhead. When shrikes’ vertebrate prey is impaled on a sharp object they are then usually decapitated and, in most cases, the brain consumed before other body parts. They tend to eat more insects during the summer breeding season, and then add a little more variety in winter. And when you hunt prey almost as large as yourself, that’s a serious drawback. These animals impale their prey on thorny plants and even on barbed wire, after catching them. These birds aren’t shrikes, but they occupy a similar ecological niche.). In addition to birds, shrikes will hang-up mice, lizards, crickets and the occasional Twinkie. The Zoo instills a lifelong commitment to conservation through engaging experiences with animals and the people working to save them. Another good way to tell the species apart is their range. They habitually hunt vertebrate animals, and their bill is not only hooked but toothed like a falcon’s. Adorable… sort of. As it turns out, this real-life murder mystery has a surprising avian culprit: the shrike. Why does the Loggerhead Shrike impale its prey? The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as butcherbirds because of their feeding habits. Kākāpō voted winner of New Zealand’s Bird of the Year contest, Photos of the day: First half of November 2020, Extinct bird’s scythe-shaped beak expands knowledge of avian evolution, Rescued saw-whet owl released from wildlife rehab facility, Avian genome research covers nearly all avian families. Shrikes might hunt like raptors, but they lack talons to pin their prey down. Generally shrikes hunt from atop a perch, using their superior vision to locate their quarry. Shrike definition is - any of numerous usually largely gray or brownish oscine birds (family Laniidae) that have a hooked bill, feed chiefly on insects, and often impale their prey on thorns. Image Credit Hunter Desportes If you can’t see a loggerhead shrike then you will know if one is about if you check and barbed wire or sharp, pointed vegetation.If you see the impaled remains of insects like the grasshopper then although you might suspect it to due to the exertions of some willful boy it is much more likely to be the handiwork of the butcher bird. What animals eat polyphemus caterpillars? Both species live in open, brushy habitats like grasslands, prairies, desert scrub, and savannahs. Keep up to date on all the latest birding news and info. The impulse to impale is hard-wired into shrikes, and people have even observed juvenile shrikes practicing by impaling leaves on tree branches near their nest. I was tickled to find the Shrike’s prey impaled on the bush, they cache prey that way. The same reasoning doesn't hold up for the birds that live in the south, but that's the best we can come up with for now. Shrikes overcome this challenge in unique fashion: They impale their prey or wedge it between branches. Rare Cretaceous-age fossil ‘a great opportunity to reconsider ideas around head and beak evolution in the lineage leading to modern birds.’. Shrikes (including loggerhead shrikes) definitely impale any prey too large for them to eat in one bite, such as small birds and large bugs, on thorns so they can easily kill, store, and eat it. Thanks to this, they can tear them apart by jerking them around, hence their nickname: the butcher bird. 5. He thinks how Shrike will ridicule him at the speakeasy , telling him to give his readers stones. And why? Loggerhead Shrikes (Hunting and Impaling their prey) in pictures. Sign up for our free e-newsletter to receive news, photos of birds, attracting and ID tips, and more delivered to your inbox. BirdWatching In fact, it is the male loggerhead which exhibits this behavior and he is looking for a mate. The theory is that shrikes store food for times when hunting isn't so good. Photo © Mick Thompson / Flickr. Both species are remarkably similar: they’re about the size of a robin, with a dark, hooked bill, grey body, and black-and-white wings. The loggerhead shrike is slightly smaller than the American robin. Because of this behavior, they have been referred to as the "butcher bird." Once the unfortunate animal is firmly attached and appropriately subdued, shrikes then tear their prey apart. Things get even more interesting when shrikes take on a big meal. Note the narrow eye band that doesn’t extend over the eyes or above the bill. • Insects are the main prey while nesting, but a variety of vertebrates are also eaten. If you’ve ever come across a small animal impaled on a spike, odds are it was killed by a shrike. How many times its weight does a polyphemus moth caterpillar eat? A new analysis of high-speed video footage finally reveals the answer: They grasp mice by the neck with their pointed beak, pinch the spinal cord to induce paralysis, and then vigorously shake their prey with enough force to break its neck. 2. I enjoyed reading your article on Shrikes. The shrike can either pick its prey apart, bit by bit, or leave it for later. Shrikes are distinguished partly by their peculiar eating habits. But their feet lack a raptor’s heavy talons. The first is defending itself, something shrikes accomplish by hovering above dangerous prey, attacking from behind, and biting at the base of the skull. Diet of the Iberian grey shrike. Loggerhead shrike populations are declining across much of their range. Shrike definition, any of numerous predaceous oscine birds of the family Laniidae, having a strong, hooked, and toothed bill, feeding on insects and sometimes on small birds and other animals: the members of certain species impale their prey on thorns or suspend it from the branches of trees to tear it apart more easily, and are said to kill more than is necessary for them to eat. (You can find several species of butcherbirds in Australia. Shrikes or “butcher birds” often impale small prey, like this frog, on twigs to save for later. (But not the mid-Atlantic or New England.). For example, in Bulgaria, wintering Great Grey Shrikes impale mostly crickets whereas in northern parts of their range voles and birds form the bulk of their diet (Olsson, 1985, Hromada and Kristin, 1996, Karlsson, 2007, Antczak et al., 2005a, Antczak et al., 2005b). Always free of charge and open 364 days a year, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of Washington D.C.’s, and the Smithsonian’s, most popular tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors from all over the world each year. Anthropologists recently have credited shrikes for inventing the popular Mediterranean dish, shishkabob. Shrikes make up for their lack of strong talons by often taking their prey by surprise from behind. If it’s winter and you live in the south, probably a loggerhead. While this might seem like cruel and unusual punishment, the shrike’s grim feeding strategy is rather efficient. Left: A loggerhead shrike. Download : Download full -size image; Fig. The Long-tailed Shrike is a common resident in Singapore. This lovely bird was near Brides Pool road in the New Territories. Wow! Sometimes, caching prey also helps make it more palatable. The sole use of impaling by fledglings is to assist in the dismemberment of prey. Any of various birds, especially the shrike, that impale their prey on thorns. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the population decline coincides with the increased use of chemical pesticides from the 1940s and the 1970s, possibly because the birds are eating pesticide-laced insects near treated fields. Please note that all comments are moderated and may take some time to appear. Northerns have a slightly pickier palate, tending to eat fewer reptiles. Note the thicker eye band. He senses the other man’s eyes on him, quiet, watchful. Once prey is dead, they may store it by impaling it on a thorn or wedging it in a branch fork. Those are just a few examples of animal tool use that appear in the new book Animal Tool Behavior by … Since shrikes cannot securely grip their prey with large and strong feet equipped with sharp talons as owls, eagles, hawks and falcons have, shrikes commonly impale or wedge their prey items onto the thorns of woody and herbaceous plants, onto barbs of barb wire fences, or into fissures of branches and bark. If it’s winter and you live in the north, it could be either species so get a closer look. They seem better suited to perching than killing. I have been photographing Loggerhead Shrikes in south Florida for the past 8 years and have documented there whole life cycle! Shrikes are carnivorous passerine birds of the family Laniidae. By caching, a bird can mark his territory, hoard supplies for leaner times and store toxic prey, such as lubber grasshoppers, until the chemicals they contain decompose. The development of this technique may also have been an accident, with males first impaling the vivid insects to attract mates before later discovering that they became safe to eat. The Shrike:the ultimate killing machine that can stop time with a thought. She has a degree from Princeton University and a master's in Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting from New York University. Both species hunts like miniature raptors: they wait on an exposed perch and watch the ground below, diving down on their prey from above. Thanks to this, they can tear them apart by jerking them around, hence their nickname: the butcher bird. Hi Justine Shrikes are nondescript and ubiquitous birds that have made a name for themselves as the leatherfaces of the animal kingdom. So shrikes grasp prey in their hooked beaks and fly it to the nearest pointy object, like a cactus spike, branch, or barbed wire spike. Northerns have a slimmer band that narrows as it meets the bill, and does not cover top of bill or go over eye. Jerry Jackson’s article about Loggerhead Shrikes in Florida, a highlight of our August 2014 issue, contains the answer: Shrikes are a lot like hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE with impaled rodent prey (Alan Murphy photo) ... Wow! Songbirds, technically called passerines, use their beaks to capture bugs, worms, or berries. Those are just a few examples of animal tool use that appear in the new book Animal Tool Behavior by … “Because they’re weak. The great grey shrike catches its prey and impales it on thorns or even barbed-wire fences Bird then rips its prey, which can be a rodent, bird or insect, limb from limb - often saving some for later Shrikes are also common near human development, where they inhabit agricultural fields, pastures, old orchards, riparian areas, golf courses, and even cemeteries. Shrikes impale prey to eat or to impress ... Shrikes that do occur are found mostly in the winter months. Why do shrikes impale their prey? Once their prey is captured, they will impale their catch on a thorn, barb wire, or even branches in small bushes. It forms a superspecies with its parapatric southern relatives, the Iberian grey shrike (L. meridionalis), the Chinese grey shrike (L. sphenocerus) and the loggerhead shrike (L. ludovicianus).Males and females are similar in plumage, pearly grey above with a black eye-mask and white underparts. Shrikes are basically nature’s version of Vlad the Impaler. “But why do shrikes impale their prey?” Will sighs, presses his palms briefly against the flat of his abdomen before exhaling. Adorable… sort of. Butcher birds, or different species of shrikes, are largely insect-eaters but the larger ones also prey on lizards, mice and other small vertebrates. Photo © cuatrok77 / Flickr. "Shrikes do leave a lot of prey uneaten--all that work hoisting something heavy onto a thorn and then just forgetting about it--that does seem like an inefficient thing for a predator to do." — there you have it – shrikes impale their “too-large-to-eat-all-at-once” prey, returning to it when convenient (unless a thief gets it while the shrike is elsewhere, not an unlikely contingency). What threatens loggerhead shrike populations?