Black Butcherbird
Song & Calls

Black Butcherbird (Melloria quoyi)

Black Butcherbird (Melloria quoyi)

The Black Butcherbird (Melloria quoyi) is a species of butcherbird found mainly in coastal areas in the tropical north of Australia, as well as in New Guinea. It can be found in a variety of habitats including rainforests, gardens and mangroves.

What does a Black Butcherbird sound like? The song of the Black Butcherbird consists of rich, melodic warbling phrases and throaty, rollicking calls. In the breeding season pairs often sing as antiphonal duets. Black Butcherbirds also make loud ringing calls, liquid ‘clonks’ and cackling phrases. Like other species of butcherbird, the vocalizations of the Black Butcherbird show considerable regional variation.

Listen to examples of Black Butcherbird calls below.

Listen to Black Butcherbird Sounds

The audio in this video features typical yodelling song and gravelly, throaty calls of the Black Butcherbird. Recorded near Kuranda, Queensland, Australia.

License Audio

License audio for use in documentaries, film, radio, sound installations and more…