Chinese grey shrike The Chinese Grey Shrike (Lanius sphenocercus) is a species of bird belonging to the shrike family (Laniidae). It is a large, predatory songbird found primarily across China, Mongolia, the Russian Far East, and the Korean Peninsula, with some populations migrating south in winter. Its natural habitat includes temperate forests. Like other shrikes, it is known for its "butcher bird" behavior, often impaling its prey—such as insects, small rodents, and small birds—on thorns or b