Black Butcherbird
Melloria quoyi
Black Butcherbird (Melloria quoyi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Butcherbird (Melloria quoyi) is a member of the Artamidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 168 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Artamidae Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies
- Genus Melloria
- Species quoyi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 168 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Artamidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Butcherbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Butcherbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Butcherbird (Melloria quoyi) belongs to the Artamidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Guinea region and n Australia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 168 g, with a wing length of about 17.6 cm and a tail of around 13.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Butcherbird?
The Black Butcherbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 168 g.
Where does the Black Butcherbird live?
The Black Butcherbird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Guinea region and n Australia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black Butcherbird belong to?
The Black Butcherbird (Melloria quoyi) belongs to the Artamidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Butcherbird eat?
The Black Butcherbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black Butcherbird migrate?
The Black Butcherbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Butcherbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Butcherbird make?
1 real field recording of the Black Butcherbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Butcherbird's range?
The Black Butcherbird has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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