Apostlebird

The Apostlebird is a distinctive, entirely grey-brown bird endemic to inland eastern Australia. Its plumage is a soft slate-grey with darker wings and tail and fine pale streaking on the throat and breast, giving the feathers a slightly shaggy, unkempt look. The short, stout black bill and dark eye stand out against the plain grey head.

Its common name comes from its habit of moving about in tight, chattering groups historically likened to the twelve apostles, though group size actually ranges from about six to twenty birds. Along with the closely related White-winged Chough, it belongs to the small, ancient Australian family Corcoracidae, mud-nest builders unique to the continent.

Key field marks

• Uniform dull grey-brown plumage overall, darkest on wings and tail
• Fine pale shaft-streaking on throat and upper breast
• Short, stubby black bill
• Dark reddish-brown eye
• Long tail often held loosely; a somewhat scruffy, unkempt appearance

Similar species

• White-winged Chough is larger, glossy black rather than grey, has a longer curved bill and a bright red eye, and shows white wing patches in flight.
• No other common inland Australian bird shares the Apostlebird's combination of plain grey plumage and habit of moving in noisy family parties on the ground.

Range

Endemic to inland eastern Australia, from central Queensland south through inland New South Wales into northern Victoria and adjacent South Australia.

Habitat

Prefers open eucalypt and box-gum woodland, mallee, and cleared farmland, almost always close to a river, creek, or other watercourse that provides mud for nest-building.

Migration

Sedentary and highly territorial as family groups, though juveniles disperse from natal groups to establish or join others nearby.

Behavior

One of Australia's most cooperative breeders, living in permanent family groups that forage, roost, and breed together, defending a shared territory year-round. Groups move across open ground in a loose, hopping, chattering rabble.

Voice

A harsh, scratchy chattering and squeaking, kept up almost constantly as the group forages, plus louder alarm calls when predators are spotted.

Feeding

Forages mainly on the ground, taking seeds, grain, and invertebrates such as beetles, ants, and grubs; will also visit farmyards and picnic areas for scraps.

Nesting

Builds a heavy, bowl-shaped nest of mud reinforced with grass, placed on a horizontal branch, often the same nest reused and repaired over years. Several group members, not just the breeding pair, help build the nest, incubate eggs, and feed chicks.