Cracticus quoyi
Nominate race is black, brighter, glossy blue-black on back, duller ventrally, and becoming duller with wear; tail long, appears square-tipped at rest but rounded in flight; iris brown; bill blue-grey or milky blue, distal third black; legs dark grey or black. Sexes similar in plumage, male (wing 180 mm) slightly larger then female (wing 176mm). Juvenile differs from adult in having underparts dull black or brownish-black, iris brownish-yellow, bill pale grey, legs dark grey; immature like adult, but underbody and most of upperwing duller black-brown, contrasting with glossy head, neck and back, area of bluish coulour at base of bill becoming more extensive with age. Races differ mostly in size and in bill morphology: alecto is larger then nominate (wing of male 190 mm,of female 181 mm), intermediate in size between following two, immature dull black; spaldingi is largest race ( 42-44 cm, wing of male 198 mm, of female 186 mm), with slender bill, immature dull black; jardini is smaller then previous ( 167g; wing of male 181 mm, of female 176 mm), with short, slender bill, immature dull black; rufescens is smaller then last (33-38 cm, male 161 g, wing of male 174 mm, of female 166 mm), with short, slender bill, immature either rufous-black or dull black ( sometimes both types in same brood).Voice. Repertoire not well known; regional variation reported, but not characterized. Vocalizations loud. Song a rich, melodious yodelling with some clear liquid notes, sometimes ( e.g. dawn in breeding season) given in long bouts. Antiphonal duets by presumed males and female, especially at start of breeding season. In early morning male gives clonking “gronk, gronk” call from perch in canopy.
Not Threatened
Nominate race is black, brighter, glossy blue-black on back, duller ventrally, and becoming duller with wear; tail long, appears square-tipped at rest but rounded in flight; iris brown; bill blue-grey or milky blue, distal third black; legs dark grey or black. Sexes similar in plumage, male (wing 180 mm) slightly larger then female (wing 176mm). Juvenile differs from adult in having underparts dull black or brownish-black, iris brownish-yellow, bill pale grey, legs dark grey; immature like adult, but underbody and most of upperwing duller black-brown, contrasting with glossy head, neck and back, area of bluish coulour at base of bill becoming more extensive with age. Races differ mostly in size and in bill morphology: alecto is larger then nominate (wing of male 190 mm,of female 181 mm), intermediate in size between following two, immature dull black; spaldingi is largest race ( 42-44 cm, wing of male 198 mm, of female 186 mm), with slender bill, immature dull black; jardini is smaller then previous ( 167g; wing of male 181 mm, of female 176 mm), with short, slender bill, immature dull black; rufescens is smaller then last (33-38 cm, male 161 g, wing of male 174 mm, of female 166 mm), with short, slender bill, immature either rufous-black or dull black ( sometimes both types in same brood).
33-44 cm; 148 – 196 g (races unspecified), 180 – 220g (spaldingi)
Taxonomy: Barita Quoyi Lesson and Garnot, 1827, Dorey (= Manokwari), Vogelkop, north-west New Guinea. Has at times been placed in a monotypic genus, Melloria. DNA evidence suggests that this species may be more closely related to C. tibicen than to others of genus, but more evidence needed. Race jardini intergrades with rufescens in region of Endeavour R (in NE Queensland). Geographical variation slight; some authors consider that species would be better treated as monotypic. Five subspecies currently recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * quoyi ( Lesson & Garnot, 1827) - West Papuan Is (Waigeo, Salawati and Misool), Yapen (in Geelvink Bay) and mainland New Guinea (except Trans-Fly). * alecto Schodde & Mason, 1999 - SC New Guinea (Trans-Fly region from Princess Marianne Strait E to Daru I), Aru Is, and islands in N Torres Strait (Boigu and Saibai). * spaldingi Masters, 1878 - N Western Australia (Cambridge Gulf) E along coast, including Tiwi Is (Bathurst I and Melville I), to coastal Arnhem Land (to Blue Mud Bay, in Gulf of Carpentaria). * jardini Mathews, 1912 - coastal Cape York Peninsula S to Mitchell R in W and to Cooktown in E. * rufescens De Vis, 1883 - NE coastal Queensland from Cooktown area S to N Broad Sound (S of Mackay), with gap at Burdekin R.
Nominate races occurs in most forest types and plantation in lowlands and hills, to c. 1300 m. In S New Guinea and N & NE Australia, mainly mangrove forests and riverine vegetation along humid coasts, also coastal rainforest and adjacent woodland, including open grassy woodland
Invertebrates, mainly insects; also small vertebrates, e.g. small lizards and snakes, frogs, small mammals and birds ( including nestlings), small crabs and fish; also some fruit. Sometimes feeds by pouncing to the ground, but in forest forages mostly at 8 – 30 m through subcanopy and lower canopy; also search through litter. In mangroves, forages bellow canopy on trunks, branches, prop-roots and ground. Prey items too large to be eaten in one piece are wedged into a crack or fork or impaled on a spike, and then dismembered.
Little known. Laying in middle to late dry season Aug to early Jan (mainly Sep-Oct) in New Guinea; eggs mainly Sept-Jan (mostly Oct- Nov) in Australia. Territorial, remaining on territory all year. Nest an untidy bowl of sticks and twigs, may be lined with rootlets and grass, one was 25 cm in diameter and 8 cm deep; in Australia placed in vertical fork 5-15 m above ground or (in Western Australia) at 5-7 m in vertical fork of tall mangrove and often overhanging tidal creek; frequently in same area, although not same tree, each year; in NE Australia ( Capa York) Trumpet Manucode often breeds in vicinity of nest of present species, apparently benefiting from its aggressive nest defence. Clutch 2-4 eggs, usually 3; colour variable, cream to greyish-green, olive-grey or greyish-blue with rich reddish-brown or darker dots, spots and blotches concentrated at larger end, dimensions c. 33 x 24 mm; no information on incubation or nestling periods.
