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Grey-crowned Babbler

(Pomatostomus temporalis)
Alternative names: "Apostlebird", "12 Apostles", "Chatterer", "Cackler", "Barker", "Pine-bird", "Cat-bird", "Dog-bird", "Hopper", "Codlin-moth-eater", "Jumper", "Yahoo", "Happy Family", "Parson-bird";
Aboriginal name: "dhadhalurraa" [yuwaalaraay]
Note: Includes former "Red-breasted Babbler"
Size: 26-29 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Of the two races of Grey-crowned Babblers, nominate race "temporalis" is found in QLD and NSW eastward of a line connecting the southern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria with Bourke, NSW. They also live in the hill ranges of VIC, but not along the southern coastal fringe up to the Hunter River estuary in NSW. They are also not found on the coastal fringe around Townsville, QLD. Race "rubeculus" is found to the west of the tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria, roughly north of the tropic of Capricorn into the eastern NT. They also populate the entire top end of the NT and the Kimberleys in WA, plus a southern area around Alice Springs. Their range includes a large area of western WA, along the Gascoyne to Fitzroy Rivers and farther inland from there, to halfway to the NT border.

Grey-crowned Babblers can be found in relatively dry forest and more open woodland, often also under (even single) trees with dense bushes around/under them, including roadside vegetation.

Sightings

Grey-crowned Babblers are the most common species of babbler in our area, around Narrabri, NSW. Like all babblers, they come in groups or families and forage in trees or paddocks while continuously communicating with each other. Seen regularly in bushland, but also more open country and along roadsides.

Seen by us regularly, but infrequently, 20 km east of Narrabri.

Photos

Race "temporalis"

Near-frontal view of a Grey-crowned Babbler

Lateral view of a Grey-crowned Babbler

Grey-crowned Babbler seen from behind

Here a bird seen foraging on the ground

Whatever it is that it wanted, it had to dig it out of the soil

Grey-crowned Babbler preening itself, seen against evening sunlight

A family of Grey-crowned Babblers has found something interesting

Family of Grey-crowned Babblers taking a bath

Frontal view of a juvenile Grey-crowned Babbler preening (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey-crowned Babbler

Lateral view of the same bird as shown above

Fledgling Grey-crowned Babbler (race "temporalis"), hardly able to fly and still stumbling along the branches of the tree in which it is hiding, while its parents go mad about the photographer in the vicinity

Fledgling Grey-crowned Babbler, race "temporalis"

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Feb Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 17 - 25 days Fledging age: 19 - 22 days

Nest

Type: Dome Material: Sticks, with grass and/or feather lining Height above ground: 4 - 7 m

Grey-crowned Babblers sometimes nest in the lower part of a larger bird's nest (e.g. a raven's or a raptor's). They are known to be communal breeders.

Grey-crowned Babblers' nest in an unusual habitat, namely in a plane tree in a garden; the location of this nest was reported to us by J. Faris

Eggs

Size: 22 x 16 mm Colour: Light-brown with strong colour pattern Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Family clan

Grey-crowned Babblers are gregarious birds that are almost always on the move and busy with something. Quite often seen by us together with a mob of Apostlebirds.

Many family units are happy to live in very little dense vegetation by roadsides, often with only one sufficiently large tree to provide them with shelter. In late October 2005 we spotted six separate groups in the area of Yarrie Lake and Bohena, west to south-west of Narrabri, along roadsides over a distance of only 20 km.

Food

Like all other babblers of the Pomatostomus family, Grey-crowned Babblers hunt for insects and their larvae in trees and on the ground.