Sex differences in impaling behaviour of Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor: Do males have better impaling skills than females?

Prey impaling in shrikes Laniidae is considered to be a feeding adaptation to dismember and consume large prey and is unique among food-storing animals. However, other exaptations of this behaviour were recorded, including signals in mate choice, where cache size is a sign of male quality. Thus, due to a strong sexual selection, male and female birds might differ in their behavioural patterns of impaling behaviour. We examined sex differences in impaling behaviour of the Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor – one of the species where caches are known to be sexual signals. Data were collected in western Poland during breeding seasons in the years 2006–2010. In the studied population, we recorded several sex-specific differences in impaling behaviour. Males impaled prey, invertebrates as well as vertebrates, faster and with fewer attempts per impaling event than females. Sexes differed in the location of impaled prey; males selected more visible places, especially during the mating and courtship phase, whereas females impaled prey in concealed locations. Males also had slightly better impaling success compared to females. We suggest that sex differences in impaling behaviour may be due to different uses of impaled prey, and the better impaling skills of males may be the result of better experience in impaling which is forced by sexual selection in this species. We also discuss other factors which might trigger sex-specific differences in food caching by shrikes.

► We studied sex differences in impaling behaviour of the Great Grey Shrike.
► Male and female Great Grey Shrikes differ in behavioural patterns of impaling prey.
► Males had better impaling skills and used impaled prey as signals and as caches.
► Sexual selection strongly modifies the primary function of impaling behaviour.