gray butcherbird
Quick Summary
The term "butcherbird" generally refers to any bird that impales its prey on a thorn or wedges it into a crack or forked twig to tear or store it. This name is applied to species in the genus Lanius (shrikes) and to the Australian birds in the genus Cracticus.1
The gray butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) is a species found in Australia and belongs to the family Cracticidae. These birds are typically black, gray, and white, with a stocky build, large feet, and a heavy, hook-tipped bill. Pairs of gray butcherbirds defend their territory year-round and are known for singing beautiful duets.1
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