Alternative names: Grey-crowned Chatterer; Red-breasted Babbler; Rufous-breasted Babbler (rubeculus)
- Pomatostomus temporalis
Identification
23 - 27cm. The largest Australasian Babbler:
- Narrow grey crown bordered by broad white eyebrow
- Dark brown eye stripe
- Black, long and down-curved bill
- Pale yellow eye
- Greyish-brown upperparts, darker rump
- Blackish-brown long tail with broad white tip
- White throat and upper breast merging to grey breast
- Rufous-brown belly
- Rubeculus has a rufous breast
Sexes similar. Juveniles similar to adults but with shorther and less curved bill and dark brown eye.
Distribution
Southern New Guinea and northwest, north, central and east Australia.
Locally common.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies accepted:
- P. t. temporalis in New Guinea and east Australia
- P. t. rubeculus in central, north and northwest Australia
The two forms are sometimes split into two species. Furthermore due to the clinal variation much more subspecies are described but usually not accepted.
Habitat
Dry open forest, scrubby woodlands, farmland with isolated trees and trees bordering roads.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on insects but takes also seeds, spiders, scorpions or small reptiles.
They go around in family groups seeking out bugs to feed on, all the while making many curious calls, some that sound like kittens mewing or squeaky toys. Their method of locomotion is a comical bounce. At night they roost in communal nests but if some family members don't fit in the main nest they are turfed out and must use a nearby "guest" nest.
Breeding season mainly July to February but recorded in all months. Co-operative breeder. Lays 2 - 6 eggs.
Mainly resident but some evidence for nomadism.
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.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Grey-crowned Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey-crowned_Babbler
