---
title: "Grey Butcherbird"
description: "Cracticus torquatus — Birds. The grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) is a widely distributed species endemic to Australia."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/grey-butcherbird
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Grey Butcherbird

> Cracticus torquatus — Birds. The grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) is a widely distributed species endemic to Australia.

- Scientific name: *Cracticus torquatus*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `urban` (Towns & gardens)
- iNaturalist observations: 21021
- Wikidata: [Q974220](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q974220)
- iNaturalist taxon: [204497](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/204497)

## Names

- en: Grey Butcherbird
- de: Graurückenwürgatzel
- es: Verdugo Acollarado
- fr: Cassican à collier
- nl: Grijsrugorgelvogel
- pl: Srokacz szary

## Countries with the most observations

AU (20305)

## Summary

The grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) is a widely distributed species endemic to Australia. It occurs in a range of different habitats including arid, semi-arid and temperate zones. It is found across southern Australia, but is absent from the deserts of central Australia and the monsoon tropics of northern Australia.  It has a characteristic rollicking birdsong. It appears to be adapting well to city living, and can be encountered in the suburbs of many Australian cities including Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Hobart. The grey butcherbird preys on small vertebrates including other birds.
Other birds…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_butcherbird

## Photo

![Grey Butcherbird](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/grey-butcherbird/medium.jpg)

Photo: John Cull · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/216999583

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/grey-butcherbird?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).