Silver-backed butcherbird | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Artamidae |
Genus: | Cracticus |
Species: | C. argenteus
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Binomial name | |
Cracticus argenteus Gould, 1841
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Synonyms | |
Cracticus torquatus argenteus |
The silver-backed butcherbird (Cracticus argenteus) is a small, shrike-like bird. It is almost identical to the grey butcherbird (C. torquatus) of which it considered by some authorities to be a subspecies, C. torquatus argenteus.[2]
The species was first described by ornithologist John Gould in 1836 as Cracticus argenteus.[3]
The silver-backed butcherbird looks similar to the Grey butcherbird, except its back is lighter and silvery.[4] This species is snappy and fearless, diving at humans and dogs near the nest. It may attack other birds like the spangled drongo or common koel.
It is a part-time predator but insects are also taken. It feeds on small lizards such as skinks and mice along with small birds that it snares and plucks out of the sky.