Toyhou.se
PARA-558-Loggerhead-Shrike: Lanius
Caretaker Status: Unknown
Affiliated companion(s):
COM-137-558-1
Level 3 - concrete
Word: Shrike (Loggerhead)
Origin:
Shrike: mid 16th century: perhaps related to Old English scrīc ‘thrush’ and Middle Low German schrīk ‘corncrake’, of imitative origin.
Loggerhead: Actually comes from 1580s, "stupid person, blockhead, dunce, numbskull," perhaps from dialectal logger "heavy block of wood" + head (n.). Later it meant a type of thick-headed iron tool (1680s), a type of cannon shot, a post in the stern of a whale-boat, and a type of turtle (1650s). However, it is used in zoology for animals with larger head shapes- not referring to the 'dunce' part of the origin or anything similar at this point.
Definition:
The loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a passerine bird in the family Laniidae. It is one of two members of the shrike family endemic to North America; the related northern shrike (L. borealis) occurs north of its range. It is nicknamed the butcherbird after its carnivorous tendencies, as it consumes prey such as amphibians, insects, lizards, small mammals and small birds, and some prey end up displayed and stored at a site, for example in a tree. Due to its small size and weak talons, this predatory bird relies on impaling its prey upon thorns or barbed wire for facilitated consumption.
Magic Status: 1 - Neophyte
Tier 1 - Can use wings to fly.
Wisdom Status: 0 - Unaware