Pied Butcherbird

Pied Butcherbird
male
female
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Artamidae
Genus:	Cracticus
Species:	C. nigrogularis
Binomial name
Cracticus nigrogularis (Gould, 1837)

The Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) is a medium-sized songbird native to Australia. It grows about 35 centimetres long and the colour of juvenile birds, which are accompanied by their parents, is brown and white as seen in the picture. As they mature their brown feathers are replaced by black feathers. Juveniles of the Pied Butcherbird and the Grey Butcherbird are very similar in appearance.

Juvenile

Feeding

It is common in woodlands and in urban environments. Its diet consists mostly of small vertebrates and insects. They have been known to accept food from humans.

In the dance 'Birdsong' by Siobhan Davies, the main central solo was accompanied by the call of an Australian Pied Butcher bird and this same sound provided great inspiration to much of the dance, including the improvisational aspects.

Rush Creek, SE Queensland, Australia

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Cracticus nigrogularis. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

• Pied Butcherbird videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
• Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) | Birds in Backyards