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Alithographica — Science Fact Friday: Butcher Birds
#biology #bird #butcher #butcherbird #evolution #illustration #infographic #nature #ornithology #scientific #shrike #wildlife #scientificillustration
Published: 2018-10-13 23:46:54 +0000 UTC; Views: 1814; Favourites: 96; Downloads: 12
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Description
I chose to draw an impaled insect to keep the image relatively tame, but there are some gnarly photos of impaled lizards and mice out there. They’re easily found on Google if you’re curious.
Fun only-tangentially-related fact: Parrots also have a slight tomial tooth.
Extra fun fact: Falcons are more related to parrots than they are to hawks and eagles. (Falcons and parrots are still very distant, but a weird finding nonetheless!)
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Comments: 11
Ah, I love these birds! We have a variety here called a Janfiskaal, which appears to be a shrike.
I heard somewhere that supposedly butcher birds leave prey impaled so that maggots can hatch in it, which they eat, but I have no clue as to the authenticity of this claim :l
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Neat! It is indeed a shrike—Google tells me it's a southern shrike/fiscal shrike.
I haven't heard the maggot thing but it wouldn't surprise me, sounds plausible
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There is a great video of a northern shrike chasing a chickadee around until it makes a kill. www.youtube.com/watch?v=acdvF6…
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Nice! I didn't know they were that chase-aggressive. RIP chickadee.
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