The Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) is a common butcherbird that is only found in mainland Australia. It is a black and white songbird with a long (28 to 32 cm) hooked bill that was described by John Gould in 1837. This plant can be found across the country in a variety of open environments, including forests, arid shrubland, farming, and even urban parks and gardens. Because of its broad range, this species does not approach the vulnerable levels under the range size criterion. It has a black hood over its head and throat, as well as a black mantle and much of the tail and wings. White feathers cover the neck, underparts, and outer wing feathers. Black feathers replace their brown feathers as they get older. The pied butcherbird is divided into two subspecies. A black and white bird with a long, hooked grey and black bill, a black hood, and a dark brown eye. It features a wide white collar around its neck, as well as a black throat and legs. The back is predominantly black, but the wings and rump have big spots of white. The male and female have identical plumage, but the male is somewhat larger. Adult birds have more black plumage, whilst juvenile birds have more brown plumage. The Pied Butcherbird’s song has to be one of the most melodic of all bird songs. Single birds, duetting couples, and even groups in chorus sing elaborate, fluty, melodic phrases. They produce a variety of other calls as well. Pied Butcherbirds begin singing far before dawn during the breeding season and can sometimes be heard on moonlit nights. The species’ exquisite, haunting flute-like singing, which can be heard throughout the day and occasionally long into moonlit evenings, is one of its most easily recognizable features. The song is impossible to forget once heard, and it has been called “one of the best in the world.” In addition, Pied Butcherbirds’ repertoire generally includes imitation of a wide range of species.
The pied butcherbird is mostly stationary throughout its range. It is a carnivore that feeds on insects, tiny reptiles, mammals, frogs, and birds, as well as huge insects. It is found in woodlands and urban areas. The majority of the food is captured on the ground. The birds swoop down on their prey from an exposed perch. Hunting parties can be made up of multiple birds from a single flock, or they can hunt alone or in pairs. It builds a cup-shaped nest from of sticks in trees and lays two to five eggs in it. The pied butcherbird engages in cooperative breeding, with numerous helper birds assisting a mated pair. The white corners of the otherwise black tail are plainly seen in flight. The male and female have identical plumage, but the male is somewhat larger. Adult Pied Butcherbirds are often duller than young Pied Butcherbirds. The black parts are replaced with brown, and the white areas with buff. In addition, the birds have an ill-defined bib that grows more prominent with age. Throughout its vast range, the breeding season varies. The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs on her own, with the male and other members of the colony feeding her. The nest is a bowl made of sticks and twigs with grasses and other finer materials lining it. It’s commonly built up to 5 meters above the ground in an upright tree fork. In some cases, multiple females may lay eggs in the same nest. Its song is a beautiful, musical fluting that is often heard before it is visible. It is sometimes given in turn by numerous individuals. The Pied Butcherbird prefers drier forests and woodlands, and it frequently visits parks and residences. It sings from a high perch, so it is more typically heard than seen. Because of its vast range and seemingly stable population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the pied butcherbird as a species of least concern. The birds swoop down on their prey from an exposed perch. Birds may hunt in groups of three or four adults and several young birds from a large group, but they can also hunt alone or in pairs. Although the population trend is unknown, it is not believed to be declining at a rate fast enough to reach the population trend criterion’s criteria. The population number has not been measured, however it is unlikely to approach the Vulnerable limits based on population size. Pied Butcherbirds have a delicate ‘whisper song’ or ‘subsong’ that incorporates mimicking of other bird species’ cries in addition to their fluty song. Henry Tate, David Lumsdaine (who described it as “a virtuoso of composition and improvisation”), Don Harper, Olivier Messiaen, Elaine Barkin, John Rodgers, Ron Nagorcka, and John Williamson are among the Australian and international composers who have been inspired by and written music incorporating the pied butcherbird’s songs.
