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| + | '''Alternative names: Australian Butcherbird; Collared Butcherbird; White-winged Butcherbird; Collared Crow-Shrike; Clouded Shrike; Tasmanian Butcherbird (''cinereus'')''' | ||
[[Image:44356PB113818.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male ''torquatus''<br />Photo by {{user|IanC|IanC}}<br />Wallis Lake, [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]], November 2006]] | [[Image:44356PB113818.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male ''torquatus''<br />Photo by {{user|IanC|IanC}}<br />Wallis Lake, [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]], November 2006]] | ||
| − | + | ||
;[[:Category:Cracticus|Cracticus]] torquatus | ;[[:Category:Cracticus|Cracticus]] torquatus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
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* Bright white chin and throat | * Bright white chin and throat | ||
* Broad white half-collar on each side from throat towards middle of hindneck | * Broad white half-collar on each side from throat towards middle of hindneck | ||
| − | * Prominent white spot on lores | + | * Prominent white spot on [[Topography#Heads|lores]] |
| + | [[Image:Grey_Butcherbird.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|Muscatclark|Muscatclark}}<br />Walligan Qld, [[Australia]], June 2006]] | ||
* Dark grey upperparts with some streaking and mottling | * Dark grey upperparts with some streaking and mottling | ||
* Narrow white band across rump (well visible in flight) | * Narrow white band across rump (well visible in flight) | ||
* Black tail with narrow white tip | * Black tail with narrow white tip | ||
| − | * Mostly black | + | * Mostly black upper-wing with narrow white stripe (innermost [[Topography#Wings|secondaries]]) and white patch (secondary [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]]) |
| − | [[ | ||
* Whitish underwings | * Whitish underwings | ||
* Off-white underparts with grey shading over breast | * Off-white underparts with grey shading over breast | ||
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[[Silver-backed Butcherbird]] is similar but has black lores and a pale grey mantle. | [[Silver-backed Butcherbird]] is similar but has black lores and a pale grey mantle. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Found in south and east [[Australia]] including [[Tasmania]]. | + | Found in south and east [[Australia]] including [[Tasmania]]. |
| + | |||
Generally uncommon and patchily distributed. More common in [[Tasmania]]. | Generally uncommon and patchily distributed. More common in [[Tasmania]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | [[Image:1421IMG01460.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Immature<br />Photo by {{user|julien|julien}}<br>Eagle Point, [[Victoria]], [[Australia]], July 2005]] | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
Three subspecies recognized: | Three subspecies recognized: | ||
| − | * ''C. t. leucopterus'' | + | * ''C. t. leucopterus'': |
| − | * ''C. t. torquatus'' | + | :*Southern half of [[Australia]] (except desert areas of Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and western half of Queensland), east to east Queensland towards southern parts of Cape York Peninsula |
| − | * ''C. t. cinereus'' | + | * ''C. t. torquatus'': |
| − | + | :*From coastal southeast [[Queensland]] south to [[Victoria]] | |
| − | [[Silver-backed Butcherbird]] has been treated as conspecific with this species. | + | * ''C. t. cinereus'': |
| + | :*[[Tasmania]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Silver-backed Butcherbird]] has been treated as conspecific with this species. | ||
| + | |||
Forms a superspecies with [[Black-backed Butcherbird]] and [[Silver-backed Butcherbird]] and has sometimes been placed in genus ''Bulestes''. | Forms a superspecies with [[Black-backed Butcherbird]] and [[Silver-backed Butcherbird]] and has sometimes been placed in genus ''Bulestes''. | ||
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Open forest, woodland, farmland and urban areas. | Open forest, woodland, farmland and urban areas. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | [[Image:124BBd on the wing.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|bigbadja|bigbadja}}<br />[[New South Wales]], [[Australia]], June 2003]] | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
Feeds mainly on insects but takes also small birds and nestlings, sometimes fruit, seeds and nectar.<br /> | Feeds mainly on insects but takes also small birds and nestlings, sometimes fruit, seeds and nectar.<br /> | ||
| − | Forages from a perch. | + | Forages from a perch. |
| − | Breeding mainly from August to January but has been recorded all year in response to rain in drier areas. Usually a solitary breeder, sometimes with helpers. The nest is a shallow, untidy bowl made of thing twigs and placed around 5 - 6m above the ground in a tree (usually eucalypt). Lays 3 - 4 eggs. | + | ====Breeding==== |
| + | Breeding mainly from August to January but has been recorded all year in response to rain in drier areas. Usually a solitary breeder, sometimes with helpers. The nest is a shallow, untidy bowl made of thing twigs and placed around 5 - 6m above the ground in a tree (usually eucalypt). Lays 3 - 4 eggs. | ||
| + | ====Movements==== | ||
A territorial species, staying in its territory all year. | A territorial species, staying in its territory all year. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}} |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 00:25, 19 February 2015
Alternative names: Australian Butcherbird; Collared Butcherbird; White-winged Butcherbird; Collared Crow-Shrike; Clouded Shrike; Tasmanian Butcherbird (cinereus)
- Cracticus torquatus
Identification
27 - 30cm. A medium-sized Butcherbird with a strong bill.
- Black top and side of head
- Bright white chin and throat
- Broad white half-collar on each side from throat towards middle of hindneck
- Prominent white spot on lores
- Dark grey upperparts with some streaking and mottling
- Narrow white band across rump (well visible in flight)
- Black tail with narrow white tip
- Mostly black upper-wing with narrow white stripe (innermost secondaries) and white patch (secondary coverts)
- Whitish underwings
- Off-white underparts with grey shading over breast
Females are smaller and have a similar plumage, sometimes browner than males. Juveniles are brown with buff streaks and a dark brown head.
Similar species
Silver-backed Butcherbird is similar but has black lores and a pale grey mantle.
Distribution
Found in south and east Australia including Tasmania.
Generally uncommon and patchily distributed. More common in Tasmania.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies recognized:
- C. t. leucopterus:
- Southern half of Australia (except desert areas of Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and western half of Queensland), east to east Queensland towards southern parts of Cape York Peninsula
- C. t. torquatus:
- From coastal southeast Queensland south to Victoria
- C. t. cinereus:
Silver-backed Butcherbird has been treated as conspecific with this species.
Forms a superspecies with Black-backed Butcherbird and Silver-backed Butcherbird and has sometimes been placed in genus Bulestes.
Habitat
Open forest, woodland, farmland and urban areas.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects but takes also small birds and nestlings, sometimes fruit, seeds and nectar.
Forages from a perch.
Breeding
Breeding mainly from August to January but has been recorded all year in response to rain in drier areas. Usually a solitary breeder, sometimes with helpers. The nest is a shallow, untidy bowl made of thing twigs and placed around 5 - 6m above the ground in a tree (usually eucalypt). Lays 3 - 4 eggs.
Movements
A territorial species, staying in its territory all year.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Grey Butcherbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 22 December 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey_Butcherbird
External Links
