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Large, elegant, slender bird with long tail, gray upperparts and breast, black wing, pale eye, and faintly barred belly.
NT: Endangered
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyCuckooshrikes
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatGrassland, Herbaceous Graminoids Sparse Hummock Grasses, Open woodland, Shrubland, and Sparse woodland
Best timeReported across most months in Queensland, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Zebedee Muller
Range map
Range map
2360visible hotspots
7004visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Very long tail. Juvenile finely barred above. Calls include a loud, piercing whistle and chattering.
Behavior
This species struts around in open arid and semi-arid regions in small parties or perches high in dead trees. Sometimes mistaken for Australian Magpie from a great distance, a species that also perches in snags.
Gallery