At about 7.15 yesterday
evening I walked out my front door. A male Grey Butcherbird flew
up from the drive and perched on the fence. I found it had been
feeding on a Spotted Dove. The Dove's head was missing and the
breast had been eaten. The innards had been eaten out from inside
the body cavity, so that it was reduced to wings, 'frame', tail
and feet. It was clearly very fresh with blood bright red and
still dripping when I inspected the corpse. The Butcherbird did
not return to its prey after I went inside - still undisturbed
this morning.
Spotted Doves often sit on the ground in our drive and pick grit
there. I think a Dove is unusual prey for a Butcherbird, but I
have read an account of such a killing made by a Butcherbird
diving onto a Dove and striking its neck with its bill. I presume
it was eaten in situ because too heavy to carry away.
Anthea Fleming
Ivanhoe, Vic.
|
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
|
