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).
识别特征
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.
分类信息
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.
- 学名
- Struthidea cinerea
- 命名信息
- Gould, 1837
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Corcoracidae
- 属
- Struthidea
分布与栖息地
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.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
保护状况
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:
- 种群趋势
- stable
照片
分布
鸟叫声
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