Medium-sized ambush-hunter with a long gray bill with a dark, hooked tip.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyWoodswallows, Bellmagpies, and Allies
SizeLarge
RarityUncommon
Habitatsparse woodland, open woodland, grassland, closed forest, and woody trees scattered
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from July to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by James Lambert
Range map
Range map
418visible hotspots
4674visible records
3states
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
Black head and face with a white nape and chin. Upperparts very pale gray, with white rump, outer part of wings black, inner part of wings white, and black tail with white tip. Rollicking, chuckling song.
Behavior
This species is snappy and fearless, diving at humans and dogs near the nest. It feeds on small lizards such as skinks and mice along with small birds that it snares and plucks out of the sky.
Gallery
Regional timing
Northern Territory
Western Australia
New South Wales
Commonly confused with
Black ButcherbirdMelloria quoyiCompletely black plumage; in some cases immature is brown instead of black.→Masked WoodswallowArtamus personatusMale dark gray above, pale below, with a black face and throat and very pale underwings. Female with fainter mask and slight rusty wash to breast.→Gray ButcherbirdCracticus torquatusBlack head and face with a white nape and throat. Upperparts dark gray, with white rump, mostly black wings (limited white), and black tail with narrow white tip. Rollicking, chuckling song.→