Bird guidePied Butcherbird

The pied butcherbird engages in cooperative breeding , with a mated pair sometimes assisted by several helper birds.

⚠️Not listed
🌿Endemic to Australia
🍃Indigenous: Jardburrurru, Buubuurrbu, A-Gurruwurduk, Gurrbula-Gurrbula, Wado-Wadong, Yoy-Djedi, Debarn, Djooberan, Djooberang, Djooberin, Djoomerang, Djilkaran, Djarbren, Djarbin, Djarboorn, Djaberan, Djilerang, Dooberan, Karawong, Djoorlak

At a glance

FamilyWoodswallows, Bellmagpies, and Allies
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
Habitatopen woodland, sparse woodland, closed forest, grassland, and herbaceous graminoids sparse hummock grasses
Best timeReported across most months in Queensland, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Marc Anderson

Range map

Range map

11728visible hotspots
358813visible records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

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

Adult has black head, upper breast, back, and tail that contrast starkly with white nape, breast, belly, and wing pattern. Immature similarly patterned in brown instead of black.

Behavior

More likely than Gray Butcherbird to perch atop trees and poles. Beautiful fluting, whistling song, sometimes heard at night.

Regional timing

Western Australia
Peak: May to September26,189 records
Queensland
Peak: March to October193,779 records
New South Wales
Peak: March to November97,380 records
Northern Territory
Peak: May to September20,096 records
South Australia
Peak: April to May2,981 records
Victoria
Peak: July to November16,214 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: March to April938 records
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