Great Grey Shrike (Lanius Excubitor)
~ 1828
About this artwork
A meticulous scientific illustration of a Great Grey Shrike, also known as Varfågel in Swedish, perched on a barren branch. This print, created by Broder Henrik von Harten, was likely part of a larger ornithological publication.
Did you know?
The Great Grey Shrike earned the nickname 'butcher bird' due to its peculiar hunting strategy. Lacking strong talons, it impales its prey—which can include insects, small birds, and rodents—on thorns, barbed wire, or even sharp twigs to tear it apart with its hooked beak. This fascinating behavior highlights its unique adaptation as a predator among songbirds.
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Great Grey Shrike (Lanius Excubitor)
Wihelm Wright, ~ 1828
