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Australian mudnester

( Endemic Birds Of Australia )

Distribution and habitat
Description
Behaviour
Species
References
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C O N T E N T S

Apostlebird Chough Species White

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Corcoracidae is a family of passerine birds known as the Australian mudnesters. The family has sometimes been called Struthideidae in the past; however, despite Struthideidae being an older name than Corcoracidae, the latter name takes precedence. It contains just two species in two genera, the white-winged chough ( Corcorax melanorhamphos) and the apostlebird ( Struthidea cinerea). Both are endemic to Australia.

(2025). 9788496553507, Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788496553507

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 . Both species are tolerant of human modified and will occupy and suburban areas, and even parks and gardens.

Description

The two mudnesters are medium-sized passerines, the apostlebird being smaller at around in length and the larger white-winged chough averaging . Their morphology is typical of ground feeding passerines, with long legs and short, rounded wings. The most noticeable differences between the two species are in the plumage (grey with brown wings and a black tail in the apostlebird, and black with white wing patches in the white-winged chough) and beak shape. 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 . 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.

Behaviour

In the field, the relationship between the two species is immediately apparent: both species are highly social, spending much of their time foraging through leaf litter with a very distinctive gait, calling to one another almost constantly. 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.

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 bird migration 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 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. The majority of recruits into any group after its establishment are youngsters from previous breeding seasons. 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.

As the common name of the family suggests, the bird nest 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 Bird egg are laid in each clutch. These eggs are avian incubation for around twenty days by all members of the group, and feeding and brooding duties are also shared within the group. This family has a very long period of fledgling care, with full independence from the parents and helpers taking up to 200 days.

Species