Grey Butcherbird

Family picnic at Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Earlier this year my wife and I spent a few weeks in Sydney looking after our two grandchildren. This was during the recent school holidays there. We had a ball with our 8-year-old grandson and 5-year-ol grand-daughter. They are great fun and so full of life. They are also taking an interest in our native birds - I wonder how that interest has developed?

On the second last day of our stay, we went on a family picnic. We drove a short distance to one of our favourite places - Lane Cove National Park, about a ten-minute drive from home. We cooked some sausages on the barbeque (see photo above) and had the misadventure of having some of our lunch stolen by the local kookaburras. 

After lunch, I managed to indulge in a little bird photography. One of the local Grey Butcherbirds came to investigate what we were up to, and it posed nicely for me in the afternoon sun. While this is a widespread species in South Australia where we live, I can't really call it a resident species in our garden. It is more of an occasional visitor. 

In Sydney, however, I see or hear it nearly every day when staying with my family. I have also recorded it as present in many places we have visited in the Sydney region over the years. 

Unlike the Laughing Kookaburras, this butcherbird was not interested in snatching our lunch. It kept a keen eye on the ground for possible tasty pickings - such as small skinks, butterflies, bugs, beetles and other insects.

You can read more about Australian birds on my other site Trevor's Birding.

Grey Butcherbird

Grey Butcherbirds of Australia

Grey Butcherbird

One of the birds we often have in our garden here in South Australia is the Grey Butcherbird. Many of the smaller birds, like the honeyeaters and thornbills, set up quite a racket when the butcherbird flies in. Although they eat plenty of insects and small reptiles, Butcherbirds are also quite happy to take the young of many species of birds.

I like having them around because of their beautiful, far-reaching call which is strong and melodious.

You can learn more about Australian birds on my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Pied Butcherbirds

To untrained eyes the Pied Butcherbird may appear to be a smaller version of our well known Australian Magpie. They are closely related and share similar wonderful singing skills. The melodious call of the Pied Butcherbird is not easily forgotten, filling the Australian bush with its rich calls.

Butcherbirds get their name from their habit of raiding the nests of other birds for nestlings, then attaching the poor baby birds to twigs or in the fork of branches like they are hanging them up in their butcher shop. This habit helps them to pull off bits to eat. They will also eat a range of insects.

For more information about Australian Birds click here. 

Grey Butcherbird

Grey Butcherbirds are closely related to the much larger Australian Magpie. Like magpies they are beautiful song birds. Every few days one or two will visit our garden and then fill the air with their beautiful, rich, melodious song. Their presence usually sends all of the smaller birds, such as the honeyeaters, scurrying for cover. Butcherbirds regularly raid the nests of other birds for eggs or nestlings.
For more information about Australian birds click here.