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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Artamidae
  4. ›
  5. Cracticus
  6. ›
  7. Black-backed Butcherbird
Black-backed Butcherbird
Photo · (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Black-backed Butcherbird

Cracticus mentalisSalvadori & D'Albertis, 1875

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Artamidae
Genus
Cracticus

At a glance

The Black-backed Butcherbird is a medium-sized bird, about 25–28 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
25–28 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Black-backed Butcherbird look like?

The Black-backed Butcherbird is a medium-sized bird, about 25–28 cm long and weighing 74–110 g.

The black-backed butcherbird is a species of bird in the family Artamidae. It is found in southern New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
25–28 cm
Weight
74–110 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Black-backed Butcherbird?

The Black-backed Butcherbird is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Black-backed Butcherbird eat?

The Black-backed Butcherbird feeds on terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Black-backed Butcherbird live in Australia?

The Black-backed Butcherbird is native to Australia, recorded across 7 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-central and south-east New Guinea and Cape York Pen. (north-east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Resident
  • Non-breeding

6 regions recorded