Lanius shrikes are birds of open habitats typically seen perched upright on a prominent perch like a treetop, wire, or telegraph pole. They sally out for prey, taken in flight or the ground. These species primarily take large insects, but will also take small birds, reptiles and mammals.
Despite their diet, these are not true birds of prey as they lack the strong talons of the raptors. They are songbirds. 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.
