I have seen Grey Butcherbirds catch and eat nestlings of Noisy Miners -
hanging the prey by its head in a narrow fork of a tree or shrup and
then stripping the flesh from the bleeding carcass. Looked just like
old-fashioned butcher cutting meat from a hanging carcass in the
butcher's shop. The Butcher-birds were feeding their own flying young at
the time. I have also heard of one killing a Spotted Dove by a diving
attack on the Dove as it fed on the ground - on a very cold day in
winter. In my youth everyone seemed to keep Canaries as cage birds, and
Butcher-birds often killed them and dragged the body through the wires.
Raptor to me equals Bird of Prey, ie a hawk, falcon or owl - all of
which use their feet to seize and carry prey (and kites, eagles,
harriers, even vultures). Even Blackbirds are predators from the point
of view of snails and earthworms. Kookaburras and Butcherbirds are
serious predators of small birds; so are Currawongs and Ravens.
Anthea Fleming
Evan Beaver wrote:
What is it that defines a raptor? My curiosity was piqued a few months
ago
when discussing Tawny's and someone casually mentioned that 'as we all
know,
Tawny Frogmouths aren't raptors'. I didn't know, and so it got me
wondering
what defines a raptor? Is it a hooked beak and talons distinction? I
don't
think it's diet, as surely a Currawong or Kingfisher would meet those
requirements.
And so that brings me to my favourite bird, the Grey Butcherbird. Do they
predate (verb of predator?) other birds? After I watched one dispatch
a few
mice recently I have no doubt that they're capable, but are they
interested?
I reckon a pardalote would be about the same size as a mouse, but
probably
not as tasty. They seem to have a taste for bacon too, but who can blame
them?
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