regular use of exposed perch sites, where they adopt a conspicuous upright stance. These sites are used to watch for prey and to advertise their presence to rivals. Breeding Shrikes are generally monogamous breeders, although polygyny has been recorded in some species. Co-operative breeding, where younger birds help their parents raise the next generation of young, has been recorded in both species in the genera Eurocephalus and Corvinella, as well as one species of Lanius. Males attract females to their territory with well-stocked caches, which may include inedible but brightly coloured items. During courtship, the male performs a ritualised dance which includes actions that mimic the skewering of prey on thorns, and feeds the female. Shrikes make simple, cup-shaped nests from twigs and grasses, in bushes and the lower branches of trees. Species in taxonomic order The family Laniidae was introduced (as Lanidia) by the French polymath Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815. FAMILY: LANIIDAE Birds with similar names Other species with names including the word shrike, due to perceived similarities in morphology, are in the families: Vangidae, vangas, helmetshrikes, woodshrikes, flycatcher-shrikes, shrike-flycatchers and philentomas Malaconotidae, bushshrikes, puffbacks, tchagras and boubous Campephagidae, cuckooshrikes, trillers and cicadabirds Falcunculidae, shriketits Pachycephalidae, whistlers and shrikethrushes Platylophidae, the crested shrikejay Vireonidae, vireos, including Cyclarhis peppershrikes, Vireolanius shrike-vireos and Pteruthius shrike-babblers Platysteiridae, wattle-eyes and batises, including the white-tailed shrike Thraupidae, tanagers, including the shrike-like tanager and Lanio shrike-tanagers Monarchidae, monarchs, including Clytorhynchus shrikebills Thamnophilidae, antbirds, antshrikes, antwrens and antvireos Tyrannidae tyrant flycatchers, including Agriornis shrike-tyrants Tityridae, becards and allies, including Laniisoma shrike-like cotingas The helmetshrikes and bushshrikes were formerly included in Laniidae, but they are now known to be not particularly closely related to true shrikes. The Australasian butcherbirds are not shrikes, although they occupy a similar ecological niche. References Further reading External links Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque