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| Pied Butcherbird singing into the wind |
The pied butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) sang for over an
hour yesterday through the breezes of early afternoon, as he perched on the top
of the clothesline. He must have the
most varied song of any pied butcherbird I have ever heard.
I am back in Bucasia for a while and was privileged to be here when he put on this wonderful aural display. I had become used to his occasional concerts
and will miss him when we eventually move out of this house.
It was hard to believe one
bird only about 33 cm from bill tip to wing tip could produce a continuous song
of such richness and diversity of sound.
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| Pied Butcherbird singing as the wind ruffles his feathers |
While he sang the
smaller birds made themselves scarce. The
sunbirds disappeared. The littler of the
honeyeaters retired to some secret place.
His song drew me out of the house and I sat as close to him as I dared
without frightening him away. He transformed
my backyard into a place of pure joyous sound.
The pied butcherbird is
native to Australia and is reputed to have the most glorious song of any bird
in the world.
Claire Wood
Email: JustClaireWood@gmail.com
For more information on the Pied Butcherbird:
There are numerous sites that have recordings of the Pied Butcherbird, but none of them capture the rich melodious flute like tones of the real bird.
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