Alternative names: Red-capped Babbler; Rufous-crowned Babbler; Chestnut-crowned Chatterer
- Pomatostomus ruficeps
Identification
19 - 23cm. A mediums-sized Australasian Babbler:
- Rich chestnut crown
- Narrow white eyebrow
- Brown eye stripe
- Brown eye, black bill
- Mottled greyish-brown back
- Two diagnostic white wing bars
- White throat and breast, grading to grey-brown belly
- Blackish-brown white tipped tail
Sexes similar, juveniles are duller, have a browner crown and washed rufous wing bars.
Distribution
Inland southeast Australia.
Locally common.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Arid woodlands, dense shrublands with tall trees.
Behaviour
The diet includes mainly insects but takes also spiders, crustaceans, reptiles, fruits and seeds.
Forages usually on the ground in groups of 4 to 6 birds, but larger flocks reported.
Co-operative breeder. Breeding season mainly September but recorded from June to December. The dome-shaped nest is made of sticks. Lays 3 - 5 eggs.
Movements poorly understood but probably resident and territorial.
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. (2021) Chestnut-crowned Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Chestnut-crowned_Babbler
