Larry's Gallery:   Grey Butcherbird (2/7)

PASSERIFORMES: Artamidae

Cracticus torquatus  

Grey Butcherbirds are aggressive predators as this small rodent found out.

They perch on exposed branches where they can obtain a good view and scan their surrounds.

Having espied a likely meal they quickly pounce on their hapless prey and take it up into the branches.

These birds are also bold and brazen. As I sit here typing this on my back deck a Grey Butcherbird has landed on the table not more than arms reach away from me and is staring at me.

Thank goodness, I think he's decided that as mice go I'm probably a bit to big to cart off.