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butcherbird

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: butcher bird

English

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Grey butcherbirds (Cracticus torquatus)
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

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From butcher +‎ bird, from its habit of hanging its prey.

Noun

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butcherbird (plural butcherbirds)

  1. Any of the magpie-like birds in the genus Cracticus, of Australia and New Guinea.
    • 1934, Henry G. Lamond, An Aviary On The Plains, page 47:
      A butcher bird has stirred, tuned its flute with a few preparatory notes.
    • 1987, Bruce Chatwin, The Songlines, Vintage, published 1998, page 224:
      A short way off, two male butcher birds, black and white like magpies, were calling antiphonally across a ravine.
  2. Any of the shrikes in the genus Lanius.
    Synonyms: shrike, red-backed shrike
    1. (South Africa) The fiscal shrike, Lanius collaris.
    Synonyms: Jacky Hanger, Jacky Hangman

Derived terms

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Translations

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