Pied Butcherbird (juvenile)

Description:

This is a young Pied Butcherbird practicing sounds and also practicing the moves that the adults do when they sing - check out the little video!: https://youtu.be/DI3bHUJZXow :D Young Pied Butcherbirds are generally duller than the adults are. The areas of black are replaced with brown and white areas are washed with buff. The birds also have an ill-defined bib, which becomes more distinct with age. (Wiki)

Habitat:

This little one was sitting on the Frangipani Tree (Plumeria sp.) outside the back door.

Notes:

It is always lovely listening to the amazing variety of calls and songs of our birds. However, this was an incredibly special moment - this youngster was sitting there practicing different sounds and I was permitted to watch and listen. I hope you enjoy the little video as much as I do :) The abstract to the following link: http://www.hollistaylor.com/hollistaylor... - reads as such: "This paper challenges the assumption that improvisation is a process unique to humans. Despite the general reluctance of biologists to consider birdsong “music,” they routinely comment on improvisation found in the signals of songbirds. The Australian pied butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) is such a species. Analysis (including transcriptions and sonograms) of solo song, duets and mimicry illustrates their remarkable preoccupation with novelty and variety, and traces improvisation’s role in the creation of their complex song culture." Further reference: http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/pied...