- Struthidea cinerea
Identification
Length 29-33 cm. The Apostlebird is most often as seen in upper image: mostly grey with soft-looking body feathers. Flight feathers are brown, tail is black, legs are dark, the short, strong bill is black. However, the Birdforum Gallery (link below) show several images of birds with a much more reddish-brown color, be that due to true variation, staining, or an effect of unusual light conditions (see lower image).
Distribution
North, east, and south Australia. Highly nomadic.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized[1]:
- S. c. dalyi:
- Interior of Northern Territory and northern Queensland
- S. c. cinerea:
- Central Queensland to northern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia
The only close relative of the Apostlebird is the White-winged Chough.
Habitat
Woodlands near water, farmlands with trees, roadsides, orchards and golf courses. Open scrub and eucalypt forests
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes insects and seeds.
Flight
Their flight has a characteristic pattern of flapping intermingled with gliding.
Breeding
This species are communal mudnest builders, who, as suggested by the name, work in large groups building their mudnests on a tree branch and feeding their young ones. Not always making up a dozen birds, but with several generations helping in the rearing of their young. This group behavior apparantly lead to the name used for this species[2].
Vocalisation
<flashmp3> Apostlebird.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Feeding chatter
Recorded by Azzy at Danggali Conservation Park. 11th May 2009.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Apostlebird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Apostlebird
