Hi Robin,
I don’t think anyone is really sure when Grey Butcherbirds attain their adult plumage but it would not surprise me if it took at least 3 years. At The Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve near West Wyalong where we have been banding for 26 years, we have banded 25 individuals and all have been aged as 1 or 2- which means they are in their first year or at most 2 years of age or less. No adult plumaged birds have been caught. All bar one have been caught from about this time of year to very early spring when the young birds are dispersing. The juveniles are generally a bit more confiding than adults and will allow a closer approach – they are obviously still learning that it is “a jungle out there”!!
Mark
From: Robin Hide [
Sent: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 2:02 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Immature Grey Butcherbird at Yarralumla
It looks like the G Butcherbirds at Yarralumla (between Govt House and Warrina Inlet) may have raised at least one young?.
At midday today there was a single immature (I think, from the plumage? but at what age do they attain adult plumage?) bird calling loudly and continuously from a tree beside the bike path just over the footbridge going up towards Gov House.
Unperturbed by fairly close approach. No answering calls from, or sight of, any other bird.
Robin Hide
