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Grey ButcherbirdAlternative names: "Collared Butcherbird", "Collared Crow-shrike", "Derwent Jackass", "Tasmanian Jackass", "Whistling Jackass" Size: 26-30 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
There are four races of Grey Butcherbirds. Race "torquatus" is basically found all over the southern half of the Australian continent. Race "cinereus" is endemic to Tasmania, whereas race "argenteus" is found only in the Kimberleys and race "colletti" in the top end of the NT.
Grey Butcherbirds can usually be found in open forest and woodland. They adapt to the presence of humans quite well and can be found in urban parks and gardens.
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Sightings |
Although easy to hear out in the bush, it took us three years to obtain a photo and thereby securely identify a Grey Butcherbird in our area, near Narrabri, NSW, where one finds race "leucopterus". They were permanent residents 20 km south of Narrabri in 2003-2006; there was also a family 20 km east of Narrabri in 2007/08. While staying in bushland while there was sufficient rain, they only came to our place for bathing and drinking water starting in March 2008, when there had been no rain for several weeks. Consequently, although heard, NOT seen by us during the rainy months of winter/spring 2010.
Seen by us also on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008, basically everywhere we went.
Also seen at Dorrigo National Park, northern NSW, in July 2009 and in various locations along the NSW north coast (e.g. Urunga) in January 2011.
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Photos |
Race "torquatus"
Lateral view of a Grey Butcherbird (race "torquatus")
looking for food
Race "leucopterus"
Frontal view of an adult Grey Butcherbird; note the disproportionally
tiny legs and feet, compared to the size of the bird's body
Dorsal view of an adult Grey Butcherbird
Frontal view of an immature Grey Butcherbird (race "leucopterus")
The same bird as above after turning around...
Near-frontal view of an immature Grey Butcherbird hunting off a
perch in a tree
Now seen sideways...
... and now showing its back
This shot shows clearly the mean, hooked bill...
... whereas here one can see that Grey Butcherbirds almost
have frontal vision, similar to raptors'
Immature Grey Butcherbird (race "leucopterus")
visiting one of our water bowls - a quick dip in...
out again ...
... some preening - clean!
Once dry, strut your stuff where you can be seen...
Immature Grey Butcherbird cooling down in the shade on
a hot summer's day
Grey Butcherbird flying a hairpin bend
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Pair/family clan |
Where we lived until late 2006, on the edge of Jack's Creek State Forest, Grey Butcherbirds did not often come out into the open farmland. Rather, they preferred to stay in wooded areas, marking their territories from perches on tall trees, from where their calls carry over long distances.
20 km east of Narrabri, they stay in the bush during summer, but come close to the house in wintertime to hunt, mostly from fenceposts and nearby trees.
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Food |
Like all members of the Cracticus family, Grey Butcherbirds are carnivores. They take animals from the size of large ants up to small birds or small lizards. As nest robbers they are feared by other bird species. They earn their name by wedging larger prey into forks of branches and then ripping it apart.
This immature Grey Butcherbird was seen pulling something out
of a cavity in the branch it is sitting on
It is not easy to determine what it was plucking apart
