Hall's Babbler
Pomatostomus halli
Large, conspicuous songbird with long decurved bill, very dark mask, broad whitish eyebrow, narrow dark-brown crown, and dark eye. White throat and breast form a well-defined bib and do not extend to belly; belly and undertail dark. Compare White-browed Babbler, in which white breast extends into belly and white eyebrow is much narrower than the crown stripe. Forages mostly on the ground in chattering flocks, in western Queensland.
Identification
Hall's babbler is medium in size (19 cm-21 cm) and identified by its thick white eyebrows and a white 'bib' from chin to mid-breast which is sharply demarcated from the brown lower breast to belly. The tail feathers are tipped white, with the amount of white decreasing from the outermost to innermost feather, where most birds lack white tips on the central pair of feathers; this pattern creates distinctive white 'corners' to the fanned tail which is conspicuous in flight. The legs and feet are dark grey. The bill is curved and the iris is dark brown. As with other species of Australo-Papuan babbler, Hall's babbler is usually observed in small groups. The species is sexually dimorphic and sexually monochromatic. Juveniles are distinguishable from adults for only a short time after fledging, when they have a shorter all-black and less curved bill and conspicuous yellow rictal flange and palate.<p>There are three other species of Australian babbler which are similar in appearance; The white-browed babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), the chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps) and the grey-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis). The white-browed babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus) is considered most similar because of its size; however, it can be distinguished by its thinner eyebrows and the lack of a sharp demarcation between the white breast and brown belly (which is diagnostic of Hall's babbler). The chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps) has a distinctive chestnut crown, thinner eyebrows, and white tips to the wing coverts; it also lacks a sharp demarcation between the breast and belly. The considerably larger grey-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis) also has thick white eyebrows, but has a distinctive grey crown and a large rufous patch in the spread wing.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pomatostomus; Family: Pomatostomidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Pomatostomus halli
- Authority
- Cowles, 1964
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pomatostomidae
- Genus
- Pomatostomus
Range and habitat
Hall's babbler is found in semi-arid and arid regions of eastern Australia and prefers tall Acacia-dominated shrub lands, usually mulga (Acacia aneura). Occasionally reports are made of sightings in other arid woodlands or arid shrub lands. It has been sighted as far north as Winton and Boulia, as west as McGregor and Grey Ranges, and south to Mootwingee and Brewarrina and east to Longreach – Idalia National Park – Cunnamulla.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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