Grey-crowned Babbler

The Grey-crowned Babbler, Pomatostomus temporalis, is a bird of considerable charm, with its distinctive grey crown lending it its name. This species is a member of the family Pomatostomidae and is recognized by its creamy white to mid-grey breast in the subspecies P. t. temporalis, and a mid to deep rufous brown breast in P. t. rubeculus. Other notable features include variations in brow coloration, facial bands through the eye, tail length, and overall size.

Identification Tips

To identify the Grey-crowned Babbler, look for the creamy white to mid-grey breast of P. t. temporalis or the rufous brown breast of P. t. rubeculus. Pay attention to the facial bands through the eye and the grey crown that gives this bird its name. The tail length and overall size may also aid in distinguishing between the two subspecies.

Habitat

The natural habitats of the Grey-crowned Babbler include temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, where they can be seen flitting about in their preferred woodland environments.

Distribution

This species is found across Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. In Australia, it is present in Victoria, eastern Queensland, New South Wales, south-eastern South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and a small area of northern South Australia.

Behaviour

Grey-crowned Babblers are known for their 'talkative' family groups, moving about in small flocks and engaging in what can only be described as lively social interactions. Their poor ability to immigrate across unsuitable habitats has implications for their breeding success and group sizes.

Song & Calls

The Grey-crowned Babbler is known for its distinctive call, which has inspired names such as 'Yahoo' and 'Happy-jack'. The cackling soft 'tuk' note may also have led to names like 'Dog-bird', 'Barker', and 'Barking-bird'.

Conservation status

Globally, the Grey-crowned Babbler is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, within Australia, the conservation status varies. The eastern subspecies is increasingly considered threatened, with the Directory of Australian Birds listing both subspecies as secure, while the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 lists the eastern subspecies as near-threatened and the north-western subspecies as of least concern. The conservation status also varies from state to state within Australia, with some states listing the species as threatened or endangered, while others do not consider it threatened.