Australian Mudnesters

The Corcoracidae family, known as Australian mudnesters, consists of the white-winged chough and the apostlebird, both unique to Australia and predominantly residing in open eucalypt woodlands and various human-modified environments. These medium-sized birds are social foragers, often seen moving in groups and communicating continuously. They share distinctive characteristics like long legs, short wings, and group living, but differ in size, plumage, and bill shape, adapted for their specific feeding habits. Groups are generally structured around a dominant pair with territories defended during breeding, and group cohesion relies heavily on a cooperative breeding system where aiding in rearing offspring is crucial, with instances of chick kidnapping to bolster group numbers. Nests are made from mud, eggs are incubated collectively, and the young are dependent on the group for an extended period. The family consists of two species: the white-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) and the apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).