Hooded Butcherbird Cracticus cassicus Scientific name definitions

32–35 cm; 130–155 g. Rather large butcherbird with black head and throat, and strong bill slightly hooked at tip. Nominate race has head and neck down to upper breast black; mantle and back variable, black, mottled or largely white depending on amount of white edging on black feathers (possibly varies with age), rump and uppertail-coverts white; upper­wing black, conspicuous white patch formed by variable amount of white on upperwing-coverts and tertials; tail black, outer rectrices with white tips; underparts below upper breast white; iris dark brown or black; bill pale bluish-grey or milky blue, black tip; legs black. Sexes similar in plumage, male larger than female. Juvenile has black feathers of head, breast, back and wing-coverts tipped brown; bill grey. Race hercules is similar in plumage to nominate, but larger (wing 185 mm; nominate 170 mm).

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Lowland forest and dense second growth, often near human habitation, to c. 650 m. Occurs in openings in rainforest, forest edge and gardens.

Sedentary.

Feeds on large insects, larvae, spiders (Araneae) and fruit; also takes small vertebrates, including birds. Forages mostly in crowns of trees bordering open spaces. Usually in pairs or in small groups.

One of finest singers in family, but not studied in detail. Song described as loud jumble of bugling and yodelling, containing bell-like notes and liquid and rollicking phrases, with hoarse croaks, gurgles and musical notes, these varied phrases combined into songs which last for up to 6 seconds; bout of singing can last for several minutes, and include repetition of several different songs; song can include mimicry of other birds, including birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae), nominate race of Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha), Rusty Pitohui (Pseudorectes ferrugineus), Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) and Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides).

Not well known. Many single records of nests suggest that breeding may occur at any time, with preference for late dry season. Reported that several pairs may nest close together quite amicably; one report of several adults feeding one nestling. Nest a bulky bowl of sticks and twigs, built 9–25 m above ground towards end of strong lateral branch of tree. Clutch 2–3 eggs, pale olive, tinged with brown, blue or green, with faint blotches of brown and some darker brown spots at larger end, c. 33 x 25 mm. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Widespread and common. Although present throughout most of New Guinea, and able to live in areas of human habitation, extensive logging of lowland rainforest is likely to lead to decreases in size and extent of populations. Race hercules restricted to mostly very small islands, has tiny overall range; also likely to be suffering the effects of logging.