Pied Butcherbird
Cracticus nigrogularis
The Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) is a common woodswallows, bellmagpies, and alli found only in Australia, weighing about 128 g. The pied butcherbird is a songbird native to Australia.
About the Pied Butcherbird
The pied butcherbird is a songbird native to Australia. Initially described by John Gould in 1837, it is a black-and-white bird 28 to 32 cm long with a long, hooked bill. Its head and throat are black, making a distinctive hood; the mantle and much of the tail and wings are also black. The neck, underparts, and outer wing feathers are white. The juvenile and immature birds are predominantly brown and white. As they mature, black feathers replace their brown feathers. There are two recognised subspecies of pied butcherbird.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Like other butcherbirds, the pied butcherbird is stockily built with short legs and a relatively large head. It ranges from 28 to 32 cm (11 to 12.5 in) long, averaging around 31 cm (12 in), with a 51 cm (20 in) wingspan and a weight of around 120 g (4 oz). The wings are fairly long, extending to halfway along the tail when folded. Its plumage is almost wholly black and white, with very little difference between the sexes. It has a black head, nape, and throat, giving it the appearance of a black hood, which is bounded by a white neck collar, which is around 3.2 cm (1.2 in) wide. Voice: The pied butcherbird has been considered the most accomplished songbird in Australia, its song described as a "magic flute" by one writer, richer and clearer than the Australian magpie. Song melodies vary across the continent, and no single song is sung by the whole population. There is no clear demarcation between simple calls and elaborate songs: duets and even larger choirs are common.
What the Pied Butcherbird sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Pied Butcherbird can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Pied Butcherbird?
- Like other butcherbirds, the pied butcherbird is stockily built with short legs and a relatively large head. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Pied Butcherbird?
- The Pied Butcherbird is a medium sized bird weighing about 128 g.
- Where can you see a Pied Butcherbird?
- The Pied Butcherbird is endemic to Australia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What does a Pied Butcherbird sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Pied Butcherbird on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Pied Butcherbird?
- The Pied Butcherbird is most easily confused with the Grey Butcherbird, the Black-backed Butcherbird and the Hooded Butcherbird.
- Is the Pied Butcherbird endangered?
- The Pied Butcherbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Pied Butcherbird for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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