The shrikes of Northern Hemisphere apparently do this. It has been mentioned or supposed that our Butcherbirds do this too but I recall a few years ago Graeme
Chapman saying that they never do this. They will wedge prey into tree forks etc to help tear it apart but he says not impale them.
Philip
From: mariko buszynski [
Sent: Tuesday, 11 October, 2016 5:44 PM
To: canberrabirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] impaled Spotted Pardalote
As I was walking a dog along Launceston St. by the Canberra College close to the Yamba Drive I found an impaled Pardalote. A thin twig pierced through a breast to the back. In Japan a shrike is supposed to do this kind of things, though
a prey is not as large as this, I think. It looks as if a strong wind broke the twig and the dead bird fell on the path. Would a Grey Butcherbird do this? A Currawong would eat it on the spot? He ate a House Sparrow in a tree in our garden. I do not recall
hearing any Grey Butcherbird calling around this area. Who is responsible? Can anyone tell me?
