Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Wild Bird Wednesday: Grey Butcherbird

The adult Grey Butcherbird has a black crown and face and a grey back, with a thin white collar. The wings are grey, with large areas of white and the underparts are white. The grey and black bill is large, with a small hook at the tip of the upper bill. The eye is dark brown and the legs and feet are dark grey. Both sexes are similar in plumage, but the females are slightly smaller than the males.

Young Grey Butcherbirds resemble adults, but have black areas replaced with olive-brown and a buff wash on the white areas. The bill is completely dark grey and often lacks an obvious hook.

Grey Butcherbirds are aggressive predators. They prey on small animals, including birds, lizards and insects, as well as some fruits and seeds.
However, this little guy sure doesn't seem to fit the aggressive reputation. He visits my yard most days and comes right up to me.
My family call me "The Bird Whisperer".






Linking up with these memes:

            

21 comments:

LOLfromPasa said...

Impressive to see your hand in the top shot. You are a friend indeed :).

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful beautiful, that is one beak, well done Liz.

eileeninmd said...

Cool bird, I like it's name too. Happy Valentine's Day, enjoy your day!

Unknown said...

What a little cutie, Liz!
Happy Valentines Day to you, my friend.
xo.

Findlay Wilde said...

Just look at that beak, well equipped for what it feeds on.

Les Fous du Cap said...

Drôle d'oiseau :-)
Céline & Philippe

Photo(Geo)grapher said...

Beautiful photos!

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Great photos of this interesting bird.

Anu said...

Very interesting bird. I have never seen it. Great photos!

Lady Fi said...

What lovely shots.

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Very interesting information. I sure would not like to be nipped by that beak!

Unknown said...

Beautiful bird Liz! and great capture!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Interesting bird!! I don't think we have them where I live.

Anonymous said...

Excellent photos.
Happy Weekend!!!

betty-NZ said...

It's a pretty little bird. I've never seen one of these before.

Stewart M said...

Very nice bird. We have them around our garden, but I hear them more often than I see them.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Lady Fi said...

Sweet bird shots.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

What a beautiful, interesting, attractive and expressive bird Liz!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

It is hard to see "evil" in that pretty little guy. (And I do understand that it wouldn't be evil anyway, just nature, no matter what). I love that you have the reputation as a bird whisperer (I wish you lived next door to me -- I don't have that talent!)

Giga said...

Cute bird and its image. :)

Pat Tillett said...

It really doesn't look like a predator, but that beak gives him away.

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