Laniidae

9.9

A family of birds called shrikes with hooked beaks that catch prey

noun
/ˈleɪniˌaɪdi/

Specialized

: Laniidae

The hooked beaks of Laniidae birds help them catch and kill their prey.

Examples

Members of the Laniidae family are famous for their habit of impaling prey on thorns.
The Laniidae family includes various species of shrikes.
Researchers studied migration patterns among several Laniidae species in Europe.
Did you know that Laniidae are known for their hunting skills?
Many species within the Laniidae family are known for their remarkable hunting techniques.
Birdwatchers are often excited to spot a member of the Laniidae family due to their unique behavior.
The Laniidae family, which includes shrikes, is noted for its distinctive predatory traits.

Synonyms

family Laniidae

vsLaniidae

Specialized

9.1

A group of birds called shrikes with hooked beaks that hunt small animals

is the exact scientific name form used without the preceding word family

Compounds

family Laniidae

Specialized

9.1

A group of birds called shrikes with hooked beaks that hunt small animals

Surface Forms

Laniidae singular

Laniidae plural

Morphology

Laniidae = Lani + idae

A specialised taxonomic formation from a Latin genus stem plus the family suffix '-idae'; these parts are not productive or meaningfully interpretable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Laniidae comes from the Latin word lanius, which means 'butcher'. Shrikes were called 'butcher birds' because they often impale their prey on thorns, so the name explains the shrike family's hooked beaks and hunting habits.