The Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) is a widely distributed species endemic to Australia. The Grey Butcherbird occurs in a range of different habitats including arid, semi-arid and temperate zones. It has a characteristic "rollicking" birdsong. It appears to be adapting well to city living, and can be encountered in the suburbs of many Australian cities including Sydney and Brisbane. The Grey Butcherbird has a reputation as a vicious species as it preys on small vertebrates including other birds.
Other birds in the same family include the Australian Magpie, the Currawongs, Woodswallows and other members of the Butcherbird genus Cracticus.
Taxonomy
Closely related species include the Silver-Backed Butcherbird (Cracticus argenteus) and the Black-Backed Butcherbird (Cracticus mentalis) . The Silver-Backed Butcherbird (Cracticus argenteus) from Arnhem Land and Northwestern Australia over to Port Hedland, originally described by John Gould in 1841, was later deemed to be a subspecies of the Grey Butcherbird. Recently, however, it has again been redescribed as a separate species. The Silver-backed Butcherbird has two subspecies C. argenteus argenteus and C. a. colletti. The Black-Backed Butcherbird occurs in Australia on the Cape York peninsula and in Papua New Guinea and has two subspecies .
The black throated Pied Butcherbird (C. nigrogularis) is thought to be closely related to the white-throated Silver-backed, Black-backed and Grey Butcherbirds.
Subspecies
The Grey Butcherbird has three subspecies :
- C. t. torquatus in south-east Australia.
- C. t. cinereus is restricted to the island of Tasmania.
- C. t. leucopterus is widespread; its distribution stretches from the west to the east coast of Australia.
Gallery
Juvenile
