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Common and widespread in its range. | Common and widespread in its range. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Placed in genus [[:category:Melloria|Melloria]] by Gill and Donsker. | ||
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
There are 5 subspecies: | There are 5 subspecies: | ||
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In Northeast Australia [[Trumpet Manucode]] breeds often near this species, obviously benefiting from its aggressive nest defence. | In Northeast Australia [[Trumpet Manucode]] breeds often near this species, obviously benefiting from its aggressive nest defence. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker16V6.4}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#Avibase |
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
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Revision as of 18:25, 24 October 2016
Alternative names: Spalding Butcherbird; Rufous Butcherbird; Brown Butcherbird; Quoy Butcherbird; Black Crow-Shrike; Rufous Crow-Shrike
- Cracticus quoyi
Identification
33 - 44cm. A large, all-dark butcherbird with a massive-hook-tipped bill:
- Black plumage, brighter glossy blue-back on back
- Long tail, rounded in flight but appears squart-tipped when resting
- Brown eye
- Blue-grey or milky blue bill, distal third black
- Dark grey or black legs
Sexes similar.
Juveniles have dull black or brownish-black underparts, a yellowish-brown iris, a pale grey bill and dark grey legs. Juveniles and immatures of rufescens occur in two morphs, the normal black one and a rufous one. This rufous morph is not found in any other subspecies.
Distribution
Photo by butcherbird
Conway National Park, Proserpine region, Queensland
Found in New Guinea and adjacent Papuan Islands and northern Australia.
Common and widespread in its range.
Taxonomy
Placed in genus Melloria by Gill and Donsker.
Subspecies[1]
There are 5 subspecies:
- C. q. quoyi:
- New Guinea, Yapen Island and western Papuan islands
- C. q. spaldingi:
- Aru Islands; Western Australia to Arnhem Land and adjacent islands
- C. q. alecto:
- Islands of North Torres Strait (Boigu and Saibai)
- C. q. jardini
- Coasts of western and eastern Cape York Peninsula south to Cooktown
- C. q. rufescens:
- Eastern Queensland (Cairns to about Sarina)
Habitat
Mainly mangrove forest in Australia, most forest types and plantations in New Guinea. From the lowlands up to 1300m.
Behaviour
A sedentary species.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects but takes also small vertebrates like small lizards, small snakes, frogs, small mammals, birds and their nestlings, small crab and fish. Forages mostly in the lower canopy and sub-canopy, sometimes on the ground, also searching litter. Large prey items are wedged into a crack or fork or impaled on a spike and then dismembered.
Breeding
Littel known about breeding. Laying mainly from September to October in New Guinea, October to November in Australia. The nest is an untidy bowl made of sticks and twigs, placed 5 - 15m above the ground in a tree fork. Lays 2 - 4 eggs. In Northeast Australia Trumpet Manucode breeds often near this species, obviously benefiting from its aggressive nest defence.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird Names (version 6.4). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- 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
- Avibase
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black Butcherbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black_Butcherbird
