Grey Butcherbird

Natural Shelter

Grey Butcherbirds usually pair for life and a family can occupy a territory for many years. Pairs breed in large trees and build nests made of twigs, bark, and other materials found in home gardens. Keep and maintain large trees around the home as they provide suitable habitat for nesting birds.

Grey Butcherbirds are related to magpies and protective of their nesting sites. They are known to swoop in the breeding season.

Providing natural sources of food

Home gardens provide plentiful foraging habitat for butcherbirds. They perch on branches and pounce on prey living in the undergrowth of shrubs, tall grasses, amongst leaflitter and mulch.

Grey Butcherbirds have a cheeky habitat of accepting food offered by well-intentioned residents. Offering backyard wildlife food is not recommended. If you must, research the best methods of providing birds food without risking their health. Remember, mince and dog food can make them sick!

IMPORTANT: Avoid the use of poison baits to control rats around the home.

Toxins from baits are travelling up the food chain as birds feed on poisoned rodents. Overtime, the toxins build up in the birds body and result in lethargy, clumsiness, paralysis, and are ultimately fatal.

If baits are required to control a rodent problem, look for the active ingredients Warfarin or Coumatetralyl as they are much less harmful to birdlife.

Providing sources of water

Butcherbirds prefer to live close to water and visit bird baths to drink and bathe. Frog ponds are popular amongst butcherbirds in search of food, water, and refuge in warm or dry weather.