Songs & Calls
The Pied Butcherbird’s voice is a beautiful, melodious fluting, sometimes given in turn by several individuals. Bird call recorded by Fred Van Gessel.
Local Notes
For years a friendly Pied Butcherbird often nested on my verandah and delighted me with her lyrical songs. I’d whistle her tunes back and she’d answer. Her tunes were unique, different to ones I’ve heard elsewhere. When I hear a Butcherbird in my Nimbin garden, I know from the song if it’s related to my special friend.
by Robyn Francis
Bird Overview
The Pied Butcherbird, widespread throughout large parts of mainland Australia, is the familiar species of butcherbird to most people.
One of the species’ readily recognised aspects is its beautiful, haunting, flute-like song which may be given throughout the day and sometimes well into moonlit nights. Once heard, the song is difficult to forget, and it has been described as ‘one of the finest in the world’. Added to this, Pied Butcherbirds also often include mimicry of a wide range of species in their repertoire.
Identification
The Pied Butcherbird is a medium-sized black and white bird. It has a full black hood, dark brown eye and long, hooked, grey and black bill. It has a broad white collar that goes all around its neck and a black bib (throat area). The rest of the underparts are white and the legs are black. The upper parts are mostly black, with large patches of white on the wings and rump.
In flight, the white corners of the otherwise black tail are easily seen. Both sexes have identical plumage, but the male is slightly larger than the female. Young Pied Butcherbirds are generally duller than the adults are. The areas of black are replaced with brown and the white areas are washed with buff. The birds also have an ill-defined bib, which becomes more distinct with age.
Credit Birdlife Australia
