Grey-crowned Babbler

Images ©:
Bob Winters | Bob Winters

Pomatostomus temporalis

Largest babbler, up to 29 cm. Dark brown-grey above. Chin and throat are white, running into a pale grey lower breast. Long, curved bill. Short rounded wings with cinnamon brown wing patches. Long tail tipped white. Eye is pale yellow in adults.

Details
Type
Bird
Group
Animals
Babbler
Biology

Breeding season: July to February. Clutch size is two to three. They live and breed in co-operative territorial groups of two to fifteen birds. Groups usually have a primary breeding pair along with several non-breeding birds. They help to build the nest (females do most of the building). Two types of nests are built: roost-nests (usually larger and used by the whole group) and brood-nests (for the breeding females). The large domed nests are placed in a tree fork 4-7 m high, made of thick sticks with projections that make a hood and landing platform for the entrance tunnel. Nest chamber is lined with soft grass, bark, wool and feathers.

Distinctive Markings

Grey crown stripe and a dark face mask that contrasts with a white eyebrow.

Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Pomatostomidae
Genus
Pomatostomus
Species
temporalis

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

The old nests of Grey-crowned Babblers are used by a variety of other birds. Blue-faced Honeyeaters sometimes nest on top of the dome. In south-east Melbourne, small populations survive on golf courses.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Omnivore. Feeds on insects and other invertebrates and sometimes eat seeds.

Habitat

Found in open forests and woodlands, favouring inland plains with an open shrub layer, little ground cover and plenty of fallen timber and leaf litter. May be seen along roadsides.

Native Status
Native to Australia
Audio
Sounds
Loud scolding and chattering calls "wee-oo". Also distinctive "ya-hoo" duet by breeding female ("yah") and male ("ahoo") repeated six to eight times.