Black Butcherbird

1. Completely black plumage with blue-black gloss

2. Large, powerful gray bill with distinctive black hooked tip

3. Rich, melodious yodeling song, especially noticeable at dawn

Black Butcherbirds are true to their namethey sometimes impale prey on thorns or wedge it in tree forks to tear it apart, just like a butcher with a meat hook. They breed mostly in October-November, building untidy stick nests in tree forks. Both parents fiercely defend their territory and nesting sites, creating a no-go zone for other birds.

Look for Black Butcherbirds in Australia's tropical northfrom the Kimberley in Western Australia across the Top End to Cape York and down Queensland's east coast. They prefer dense vegetation, particularly mangroves and rainforest edges. Your best chance of spotting one is during early morning when they're most vocal, calling from mid-level perches in trees. Rather than open areas, search where forest meets clearings or along waterways with mangroves.

The Black Butcherbird has long inhabited Australia's northern tropical regions. To some Aboriginal groups in North Queensland, this bird features in stories about the wet season, with its calls believed to signal coming rains. The bird's hunting prowess and territorial nature have earned it respect in traditional knowledge as a