Lanius Storage System

Despite their diet, these are not true birds of prey, and lack the strong talons of the raptors. Though they use their feet to hold smaller insects, larger prey items are impaled upon a sharp point, such as a thorn or the barbs of barbed wire. Thus secured they can be ripped open with the hooked bill.
Most Lanius shrikes are solitary, except when breeding and highly territorial. Northern or temperate species such as the Great Grey and Red-backed Shrikes are migratory and winter well south of the breeding range.