[jddwoods]

Evidence of both the charm and the ruthlessness of an immature Grey Butcherbird.

Charm. K-3 and Sigma 400mm f5.6 tele macro.


Ruthlessness. Fortunately the victim is a Common Blackbird, an introduced pest species, not one of our beloved natives. K-3 + FA*300 f4.5.






When I came back half an hour later the Blackbird's body had gone and there were only some feathers left. Presumably the butcherbird stashed the corpse to finish later.

Nice pictures, but wow that is one fierce songbird. Almost like a small hawk. We have two species of butcherbirds: Northern Shrike and Loggerhead Shrike but I have never seen either one in the part of the US that I live in. They have a peculiar habit of impaling their victims on barbed wire or thorns or any similar sharp object they can find.

[Skodadriver]

Young Robin does dressage.
Well maybe not, my young Robin with the damaged leg is still about and that is good to see.

[Des]

Nice pictures, but wow that is one fierce songbird. Almost like a small hawk.

Interesting you should say that, John, because some descriptions compare the Butcherbirds' frontal vision with that of a raptor. But for all their fierceness, they are, as @alfa75ts said earlier, as charming as a canary. They have a magnificent rich song repertoire and (like their cousins, the Australian magpies) are often befriended by humans.

The comparison with shrikes is interesting. Seems they aren't closely related, although the behaviour is similar. An example of convergent evolution I guess.

[Skodadriver]

Young Sparrow? sunbathing?
There are a couple of these about but very wary today after I spooked a white cat in the garden. The cat has a bell but I did not hear it coming. Heard it going though. Nice of cat owners to try and alert the birds to cats.
Apologies for the lack of a good image, just managed to get a couple before it flew off.

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[alfa75ts]

Interesting you should say that, John, because some descriptions compare the Butcherbirds' frontal vision with that of a raptor.

All I have to illustrate this is a lousy shot mucking around with a 300mm lens, I'll try something shorter and faster another time.



And yes, a hungry Magpie looks much the same.

[noelcmn]

[Des]

All I have to illustrate this is a lousy shot mucking around with a 300mm lens, I'll try something shorter and faster another time.

Makes the point nicely.

Not a bird, but a raider of bird seed. Swamp wallaby, K-S2 + DFA 100.

[normhead]

Today near the feeders. More a catalogue of what's there than striving for photography excellence.
K-3 and Tamron 300 2.8 with HD DA 1.4 TC.



This time of year, google gets asked "what's wrong with he blue jays?" It's normal moulting stuff for the youngsters. Three weeks from now they'll all look the same.























And of course, the rodents.

[bluestringer]

Hummer making a visit to the feeder...................

[RockvilleBob]

Finch in flight - cross posted

[dbs]

Today near the feeders. More a catalogue of what's there than striving for photography excellence.
K-3 and Tamron 300 2.8 with HD DA 1.4 TC.



This time of year, google gets asked "what's wrong with he blue jays?" It's normal moulting stuff for the youngsters. Three weeks from now they'll all look the same.























And of course, the rodents.

Hi Norm

They still look pretty good to me

Dave

[noelcmn]

[Skodadriver]

The young Robins have disappeared and as well as two of the three Blackbird young.
This one is still about and has little fear of me. Taken with K-5 and Tamron 90mm, s.o.o.c. no crop so you can see how close I was.

[noelcmn]

Fiscal Shrike aka butcher bird, on the washing line pole

[TER-OR]

Fiscal Shrike aka butcher bird, on the washing line pole

We have a variety of Shrike here, though I've never actually seen one. I have seen its mating offerings strung up in hawthorn trees, and had to keep the dogs from eating the apparently tasty viscera.