The Grey Butcherbird is distributed in mainland Australia largely south of the Tropic of Capricorn and in Tasmania. It is found in more humid habitat than Pied Butcherbird C. nigrogularis such as rainforest edges and eucalypt forest as well as coastal scrub, parks and gardens.

Immatures are dark brown and buff (photo 4) and can be mistaken at a distance for a Kookaburra.

Like all butcherbirds, they eat birds, insects, small reptiles and rodents but the feet are too weak to hold prey as it feeds with its strong hooked bill so it impales the prey on a thorn or wedges it between some branches.