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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Artamidae
  4. ›
  5. Melloria
  6. ›
  7. Black Butcherbird
Black Butcherbird
Photo · (c) Daniel S. Katz, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Black Butcherbird

Melloria quoyi(Lesson, RP & Garnot, 1827)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Artamidae
Genus
Melloria

At a glance

The Black Butcherbird is a large bird, about 33–41 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
33–41 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Black Butcherbird look like?

The Black Butcherbird is a large bird, about 33–41 cm long and weighing 123–296 g.

The black butcherbird is a species of butcherbird in the family Artamidae. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
33–41 cm
Weight
123–296 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Black Butcherbird?

The Black 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

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Karl Tattersall · Darwin NT, Australia

Call

Tim · Cairns QLD, Australia

Call

jimchurches · Cairns QLD, Australia

Call

Tim · Cairns QLD, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Black Butcherbird eat?

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

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Black Butcherbird live in Australia?

The Black Butcherbird is native to Australia, recorded across 20 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNew Guinea region and north Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant

7 regions recorded