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Difference between revisions of "Apostlebird" - BirdForum Opus

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Feeding chatter<br />Recorded by {{user|Azzy|Azzy}} at Danggali Conservation Park, [[South Australia]]. 11th May 2009.
 
Feeding chatter<br />Recorded by {{user|Azzy|Azzy}} at Danggali Conservation Park, [[South Australia]]. 11th May 2009.
 
==References==
 
==References==
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#BF Member observations
 
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Revision as of 23:54, 8 January 2018

Photo by Mzungu
Taromeo, Queensland, January 2017
Struthidea cinerea

Identification

Photo by stoop
Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia, June 2007

Length 29-33 cm (11½-13).
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

The only close relative of the Apostlebird is the White-winged Chough.

Subspecies

Colors seem atypical
Photo by tcollins
Daly waters, Northern Territory, Australia, December 2006

Two subspecies are recognized[1]:

  • S. c. dalyi:
  • S. c. cinerea:

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, South Australia. 11th May 2009.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica
  3. BF Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

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