shrike's impaled prey
Refers to the behavior of shrikes (百舌/モズ) impaling prey on thorns or twigs to store for later eating. Often used in nature contexts or as a metaphor.
I found a shrike's impaled prey on a tree in the garden.
The shrike's impaling of prey is a behavior to secure food for winter.
Katakana spelling for the bird name モズ, sometimes used in field guides or for emphasis.
Kanji spelling using 百舌 for もず; rare and mainly literary or scientific.
Alternate kanji spelling with 速贄; very rare.
Compound of もず (百舌, shrike) + の (possessive particle) + はやにえ (速贄, early/immediate offering, referring to prey impaled for later). The exact origin of はやにえ is uncertain, but it describes the shrike's habit of storing food.