butcherbird

[ boo ch-er-burd ]
/ ˈbʊtʃ ərˌbɜrd /

noun

any of various shrikes of the genus Lanius, which impale their prey upon thorns.
any of several large, carnivorous birds of the genus Cracticus, of Australia and New Guinea, having shrikelike habits.

Origin of butcherbird

First recorded in 1660–70; butcher + bird

Example sentences from the Web for butcherbird

  • The determination and fierce resolution of the shrike, or butcherbird, despite his small size, is most marked.

    Nature Near London |Richard Jefferies

British Dictionary definitions for butcherbird

butcherbird
/ (ˈbʊtʃəˌbɜːd) /

noun

a shrike, esp one of the genus Lanius
any of several Australian magpies of the genus Cracticus that impale their prey on thorns