Australo-Papuan Bellbirds

The Oreoicidae family, also known as Australo-Papuan bellbirds, is a group of small, insect-eating songbirds from New Guinea and Australia that includes three single-species genera: Aleadryas with the rufous-naped bellbird, Ornorectes with the piping bellbird, and Oreoica with the crested bellbird. Historically shuffled among various bird family taxonomies, DNA studies between 2001-2006 confirmed the birds' distinct status, leading to a formal naming of the family in 2016, despite its early proposal in 1985. These birds exhibit a few shared traits such as modest size between 16.5 to 26 cm, semi-erectile crests, sturdy shrike-like bills, and plumage that is usually similar across sexes. Two species inhabit New Guinea's rainforests while another resides in Australia's dry woodlands. Their ringing songs earned them the name bellbird, with the crested bellbird being known for its ventriloquial abilities, producing a sound that starts soft and grows louder, making it seem further away than it is. This bird also has a characteristic song resembling the sound of a bell. Various names have been attributed to these birds based on the distinct sounds they make, including aboriginal and early European settler names that mimic their unique vocalizations.