{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox | name = Silver-backed butcherbird | image = Cracticus argenteus 58091634.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Cracticus argenteus'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T103703525A104074732 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103703525A104074732.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Cracticus | species = argenteus | authority = Gould, 1841 | synonyms = ''Cracticus torquatus argenteus'' }}
The '''silver-backed butcherbird''' ('''''Cracticus argenteus''''') is a small, shrike-like bird. It is almost identical to the grey butcherbird (''C. torquatus'') of which it considered by some authorities to be a subspecies, ''C. torquatus argenteus''.<ref>{{avibase|6BFC126268C28F71|Cracticus argenteus}}</ref>
The species was first described by ornithologist John Gould in 1836 as ''Cracticus argenteus''.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gould|first=John|author-link=John Gould|title=Characters of new species of Birds from New South Wales|journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London|year=1836|page=126|url=https://archive.org/stream/proceedingsofgen36zool#page/126/mode/2up/search/Cracticus|access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref>
== Description == The silver-backed butcherbird looks similar to the Grey butcherbird, except its back is lighter and silvery.<ref name=morcombe>{{cite book|title=Field guide to Australian birds|first=Michael|last=Morcombe|publisher=Steve Parish Publishing|year=2004}}</ref> This species is snappy and fearless, diving at humans and dogs near the nest. It may attack other birds like the spangled drongo or common koel.
== Diet == It is a part-time predator but insects are also taken. It feeds on small lizards such as skinks and mice along with small birds that it snares and plucks out of the sky.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4355051}}
silver-backed butcherbird Category:Birds of the Northern Territory Category:Endemic birds of Australia silver-backed butcherbird
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