Silver-backed butcherbird
| Silver-backed butcherbird | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Artamidae |
| Genus: | Cracticus |
| Species: | C. argenteus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cracticus argenteus Gould, 1836 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Cracticus torquatus argenteus | |
The silver-backed butcherbird (Cracticus argenteus) is a small, shrike-like bird. It is almost identical to the grey butcherbird (C. torquatus) of which it considered by some authorities to be a subspecies, C. torquatus argenteus.[1]
The silver-backed butcherbird was first described by ornithologist John Gould in 1836 as Cracticus argenteus.[2]
This species is snappy and fearless, diving at humans and dogs near the nest. It may attack other birds like the spangled drongo or common koel.
It is a part-time predator but insects are also taken. It feeds on small lizards such as skinks and mice along with small birds that it snares and plucks out of the sky.
References
- ↑ Cracticus argenteus on Avibase
- ↑ Gould, John (1836). "Characters of new species of Birds from New South Wales". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 126. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
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Wikispecies has information related to: Cracticus argenteus |
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