Australian mudnester
| Australian mudnesters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| White-winged chough | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Suborder: | Passeri |
| Family: | Corcoracidae Mathews 1925 |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Struthideidae Mathews 1924 | |
Struthideidae is a family of passerine birds known as the Australian mudnesters. The family is often commonly called Corcoracidae, however this is the junior synonym. It contains just two species in two genera, the white-winged chough, Corcorax melanorhamphos, and the apostlebird Struthidea cinerea. Both are endemic to Australia.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Both the Australian mudnesters are found in open habitat in eastern Australia, mostly open eucalypt woodlands and some forest that lacks a closed canopy. The apostlebird is more tolerant of arid habitats and is found in arid woodland and shrublands. Both species are tolerant of human modified habitats and will occupy farmlands and suburban areas, and even parks and gardens.[1]
Description
The two mudnesters are medium-sized passerines, the apostlebird being smaller at around 31 centimetres (12 in) in length and the larger white-winged chough averaging 47 centimetres (19 in). Their morphology is typical of ground feeding passerines; long feathered legs and short, rounded wings. The most noticeable differences between the two species are in the plumage, which is generally dull, and in the bill.[1] The bill of the apostlebird is short and deep, not unlike that of a finch, whereas the bill of the white-winged chough is long and curved, not unlike that of its Old World namesakes, the choughs. The differences in the bills reflect the differences in feeding ecology, with the apostlebirds using theirs for sparrow-like picking whereas the white-winged chough uses its bill to flick leaf litter around.[2]
Behaviour
In the field, the relationship between choughs and apostlebirds is immediately apparent: both species are highly social, spend much of their time foraging through leaf litter with a very distinctive gait, calling to one another almost constantly, and both species respond to a human interloper by flying heavily to a nearby tree, where they wait for the disturbance to pass, often perching close together in twos and threes and allopreening. In picnic grounds and parks these birds may become accustomed to humans and become very tame.[1]
The social groups of mudnesters are based around a dominant male and female. The number of birds in the group may vary from two to twenty birds, six birds being typical in the white-winged chough and seven to nine birds in the apostlebird. Both species are non migratory and defend a territory during the breeding season. The size of the territory during the breeding season is around 20 ha, after the breeding season when the chicks are fledged the group may range over a larger territory. On the death of one of the dominant breeders the groups break up, and the remaining dominant bird will take immatures from their group and find a lone bird to form a new group.[1] The majority of recruits into any group after its establishment are youngsters from previous breeding seasons.[3] These helpers are important in breeding success, so much so that white-winged choughs have been reported to kidnap nearly fledged chicks from other groups in order to increase the size of the kidnapping group.[4]
As the common name of the family suggests, the nests are constructed out of mud. These bowl shaped nests take several days to construct, longer if supplies of mud dry up before the nest is finished. nests are built opportunistically when rain causes muddy puddles, and may be reused if possible. Around three to five oval eggs are laid in each clutch. These eggs are incubated for around twenty days by all members of the group, and feeding and brooding duties are also shared within the group.[1] This family has a very long period of fledgling care, with full independence from the parents and helpers taking up to 200 days.[5]
Species
- White-winged chough, Corcorax melanorhamphos
- Apostlebird, Struthidea cinerea
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rowley, Ian; Russell, Eleanor (2009). "Family Struthideidae (Australian mudnesters)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 272–285. ISBN 978-84-96553-50-7.
- ↑ Chapman, Graeme (1998). "The Social Life of the Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea". Emu 98 (3): 178–183. doi:10.1071/MU98025.
- ↑ Woxvold, Iain A. (2004). "Breeding ecology and group dynamics of the apostlebird". Australian Journal of Zoology 52 (6): 561–581. doi:10.1071/ZO04031.
- ↑ Heinsohn, RG (1991). "Kidnapping and reciprocity in cooperatively breeding white-winged choughs.". Animal Behaviour 41 (6): 1097–1100. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80652-9.
- ↑ Heinsohn, Robert G (1991). "Slow Learning of Foraging Skills and Extended Parental Care in Cooperatively Breeding White-Winged Choughs". The American Naturalist 137 (6): 864–881. doi:10.1086/285198.
External links
- White-winged Chough & Apostlebird videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection