Apostlebird
Struthidea cinerea
Sturdy dark gray bird with stout black bill, plain in plumage but full of character. Usually in family groups that forage low and on the ground, following each other around, gliding between trees and chattering to each other constantly with scratchy, squeaky calls. Habituated to people in some camping and picnic areas. Inhabits eastern Australia; more common in drier inland areas but sometimes found in coastal areas (e.g., parts of Brisbane).
Identification
Measuring around 33 cm (13 in) in length, the apostlebird is a predominantly dark grey bird with a long black tail tinted greenish in sunlight. The grey feathers on the head, neck and breast are brushed with paler grey-white and the wings are brownish. The legs and bill are black and the eyes brown or white.
Taxonomy
Originally described by ornithologist John Gould in 1837, its specific epithet is Latin cinerea "grey". In its own genus Struthidea, it is placed in the family known as the mud-nest builders or Corcoracidae, written as Grallinidae in older books before the removal of the genus Grallina to the monarch family. It is one of two remaining species, with the white-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), which differs in appearance but exhibits many behavioural similarities. The mudnest builder family Corcoracidae itself is now placed in a narrower "core corvine" group, which contains the crows and ravens, shrikes, birds of paradise, fantails, monarch flycatchers, and drongos.<p>The apostlebird was named after the Biblical apostles, the twelve followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, the species travel in family groups of between 6 and 20, which may coalesce with other family groups into large feeding flocks of over 40. Their gregarious nature, and harsh scolding/grating calls have led to a plethora of colloquial names. They can be known locally as lousy jacks (due to heavy louse infestations), happy jacks, and happy families. Grey jumper is an alternate name.
- Scientific name
- Struthidea cinerea
- Authority
- Gould, 1837
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corcoracidae
- Genus
- Struthidea
Range and habitat
The natural range is across inland eastern Australia, from the mallee regions of northern Victoria and eastern South Australia, north through New South Wales and central-western Queensland to the Gulf Country. There is an isolated population in the Northern Territory. Dry open woodland is the preferred habitat, especially Callitris in New South Wales and Casuarina in Queensland, and Lancewood-Bulwaddi communities in the Northern Territory.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
Apostlebirds are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, their conservation status varies from state to state within Australia. For example:
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Lesser Greenlet
Pachysylvia decurtata
Small plain vireo of tropical forest and woodland in lowlands. Usually stays fairly high in trees and likely to be overlooked unless its rather tuneless, monotonously repeated song is learned. Identified by a combination its gray head (in Mexico and Central America) with a diffuse whitish eyering; whitish underparts with a yellowish wash on the sides; and plain olive upperparts. Head of birds from eastern Panama to South America is olive, with a whitish eyering.
Visayan Babbler
Sterrhoptilus nigrocapitatus
A fairly small bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge; endemic to Samar, Leyte, and Bohol, though lumped with Calabarzon Babbler under “Black-crowned Babbler” by some taxonomies. Has a gray back and cheek with fine pale streaks, dark wings and tail with white outer tail feathers, white underparts, a pale rufous throat, and a black crown. Note the slender black bill. Often joins mixed-species flocks and sometimes hangs upside down while feeding. Somewhat similar to Green-backed Whistler, especially from below, but smaller, with a pale rufous throat and a black crown. Voice includes a medium-pitched “poo piuu!” with the second note downslurred.
White-faced Quail-Dove
Zentrygon albifacies
Fairly large but elusive dove of humid evergreen and pine-evergreen forests in the highlands. It feeds mainly on the forest floor and may be seen beside quiet trails early and late in the day either walking quickly away or flushing explosively from close range. Heard much more often than seen. Rusty brown overall with blue-gray crown and whitish face. It Lacks the white tail corners of the smaller and grayer White-tipped Dove and is much larger than the male Ruddy Quail-Dove, with a different head pattern.
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