A happy Caturday morning, Newdists!
Diary Bird —Grey Butcherbird — Cracticus torquatus
Grey Butcherbirds, much like Ravens, are meat-loving birds that aren't afraid to come near to our homes and gardens. In fact, our backyards are often a treasure trove for these buddies that eat insects, beetles, caterpillars, mice, lizards, skinks and other small buddies.
The Grey Butcherbird, Cracticus torquatus, is found across Australia, from mid-eastern Queensland, through southern Australia, including Tasmania, to northern Western Australia. There is an isolated population in the Kimberley and the northernmost parts of the Northern Territory. link
The adult Grey Butcherbird has a black crown and face and a grey back, with a thin white collar. The wings are grey, with large areas of white and the underparts are white. The grey and black bill is large, with a small hook at the tip of the upper bill. The eye is dark brown and the legs and feet are dark grey. Both sexes are similar in plumage, but the females are slightly smaller than the males. Young Grey Butcherbirds resemble adults, but have black areas replaced with olive-brown and a buff wash on the white areas. The bill is completely dark grey and often lacks an obvious hook. They are sometimes mistaken for small kingfishers. link
Grey butcherbirds feed on invertebrates, mainly insects; small vertebrates, including other small birds and their nestlings and lizards; and occasionally fruit and small seeds.[5][7] Uneaten food can be stored in the fork or a branch to be consumed later. Uneaten food and food that is too large to be eaten whole can also be impaled or stored for later.[5][7]
Grey butcherbirds sit in branches and wait for prey. Prey is captured by the grey butcherbird sally-pouncing the prey on the ground.[5] Small birds and insects can be captured in flight[7] by using sally-striking.[5] The grey butcherbird ambushes the foraging birds while they are on the ground, usually approaching and attacking them from the behind.[5] The grey butcherbird either feeds alone, in pairs or in small family groups.[7] LINK/Wikipedia
So, Newdists, is the sun shining in your part of the world?
It’s been one of those weeks, and I’ve not been able to compile a real diary for you. Hence, I have vignettes. I hope you will find them pleasing. However, before that, please get yourself a cuppa, and a nosh.
.
.
All are welcome to join the fun, the silliness, the conversations. If you don’t know...just ask! Some things really do require a bit of explanation.
There will be a few surprises along the way, all good ones, we hope.
We are here to keep building the Daily Kos Community.
We post Mon-Sun at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
Pie fights will be met with outrageous ridicule and insults. Trolls will be incinerated and served at the next group BBQ. As briquettes.
Random Vignettes
.
.
.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
.
.
.
.
Yesterday was Nina Simone’s birthday.