Silver-backed Butcherbird

Silver-backed Butcherbird
Silver-backed Butcherbird
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Artamidae
Genus: Cracticus
Species: C. argenteus
Binomial name
Cracticus argenteus
Gould, 1836
Synonyms

Cracticus torquatus argenteus

The Silver-backed Butcherbird (Cracticus argenteus) is a small, shrike-like bird. It is almost identical to the Grey Butcherbird (C. torquatus) of which it considered by some authorities to be a subspecies, C. torquatus argenteus.[1]

The Silver-backed Butcherbird was first described by ornithologist John Gould in 1836 as Cracticus argenteus.[2]

This species is snappy and fearless, diving at humans and dogs near the nest. It may attack other birds like the Spangled Drongo or Common Koel.

It is a part-time predator but insects are also taken. It feeds on small lizards such as skinks and mice along with small birds that it snares and plucks out of the sky.

References