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Dollarbird

(Eurystomus orientalis)
Size: 25-29 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Dollarbirds are breeding migrants to Australia from the north. They can make landfall anywhere from the Kimberleys in the west to Cape Melville in the east. During the breeding season they are found mostly in the Kimberleys and the top end of the NT and in the eastern half of central and south QLD and NSW. Given the right conditions they can disperse further inland outside the breeding season, especially into the Murray-Darling Basin as far west as Bourke, NSW (but not the Paroo River catchment). Outside the breeding season they can also be found the in the border region of the NT and QLD and all over Cape York.

Dollarbirds are in woodland and forests with high trees, always near water courses, often in River Red Gums.

Sightings

Dollarbirds are easy to see in the tops of tall dead trees and their squawking makes them audible over considerable distances. They are summer season visitors to the place where we lived in 2005, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW. In 2005 they arrived in October; there were several groups/family clans - at least one near our place and one on our neighbour's property. Spotted again in the same area in November 2006.

Seen 20 km east of Narrabri from November 2007 onwards, where they stayed throughout the spring and summer. By mid-October 2008 there was no sign of them yet. Heard for the first time that year in the middle of November; not seen or heard again after the middle of January 2009, while there were Dollarbirds still around 40 km east of Narrabri in the first half of February. Seen again in the area 20 km east of Narrabri in the 2009/10 breeding season. Heard again relatively early in the 2010/11 breeding season, starting in late September. In 2011 they arrived in mid-October.

Seen along the banks of the Namoi River near Boggabri, NSW, in late October 2008 and 75 km east of Walgett, NSW, in October 2010. Also seen in along the Mehi River at Moree, NSW, in November 2011. They are also found near Maules Creek, NSW, and have been seen there in November 2011.

Seen by C. Kellenberg at Plum Creek, Biggenden, QLD, in December 2008.

Also seen and heard by us east of the Great Dividing Range, e.g. at Urunga, NSW, in January 2011.

C. & N. Thompson report spotting a Dollarbird at Coolangatta, NSW, in November 2011.

Twitcher's tip

Dollarbirds belong to the family of the rollers. We have photos available of other rollers observed elsewhere, namely the Indian Roller and the European Roller.

Photos

Since they normally stay high up in the trees, it is often difficult to get a good photo of one without setting up camp in a treetop. It is particularly difficult to show the subtle dark-green to black colour variations, because the birds are often seen against a blindingly bright sky background. In flight, they are easy to identify due to the dollar-size white spot on the underside of their wings which gave them their name.

Frontal view of a Dollarbird; note the characteristic blue throat patch and the black tip of its bill (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Frontal view of a Dollarbird in a tree; especially when sitting in the shade, as shown here, the whole bird is very inconspicuous, with dark green/grey/brown colours, except for its orange bill

Lateral view of a Dollarbird

Lateral view of a Dollarbird; note the blue patch on its throat and the prominent orange bill

Same bird as shown above, slightly different posture

Here a dorsal view from below

This is not seen often by us - a Dollarbird on the ground; in this case on our driveway

Dollarbird seen preening

Wonderful view of a Dollarbird in flight; the colour display is magnificent, showing a variety of blue and turquoise hues; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg

Frontal view of a Dollarbird in flight - now the turquoise patches look like thin strips; photo courtesy of R. Druce

Not a good shot, but one can see on the wing the bird is stretching the characteristic, dollar-size white spot

Frontal view of a juvenile Dollarbird

The same bird as above, turning the other cheek

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Pair

We have noticed over the years that, without exception, all Dollabirds spotted by us were seen close to a creek- or riverbed, even if these were dry at the time. Dollarbirds seem to have a strong preference for life in River Redgums.

Food

Like all other members of the roller family (seen by us in Oman), Dollarbirds feed on large insects, such as e.g. cicadas, that they catch in flight and on small reptiles that they take from the ground.