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Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides) Alternate name(s): "Horn-billed Friarbird", "Melville Island Friarbird", "Sandstone Friarbird" Size: 32-37 cm Body mass: 90-145 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Helmeted Friarbirds are large nectar-eating birds. They are the largest of the four species of Australian friarbirds. They have a dark-grey facial skin mask and an elongated black knob (small casque) on the base of the bill. The crown and the frilled neck are scalloped silvery-grey. The front, from the throat to the undertail coverts, is a light shade of greyish-brown. The back is darker grey-brown, while the wings are darker grey yet, with a brown hue. The tail is grey and has a square-shaped end. The irises are dark-brown; the long, down-curved bill, the legs and feet are all dark-grey. Juveniles have a heavily scalloped chest. Twitcher's tip Compared with Silver-crowned Friarbirds, they have a more rounded shape of the dark-grey skin patch around the eyes.

Taxonomy, classification See Helmeted Friarbird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Helmeted Friarbird is available HERE . The range of Helmeted Friarbirds extends from eastern Indonesia via Timor Leste to New Guinea and northern Australia. There are three races of Helmeted Friarbirds in Australia, all of which are endemic. All three races are found only in the tropical North of the continent and some offshore islands. Race "yorki" populates the East coast of tropical QLD, from about the tropic of Capricorn up to the tip of Cape York peninsula. Race "ammitophila" is found only around Darwin, NT, and offshore islands out of Darwin, and Arnhemland and islands there. Race "gordoni" is found only in the region from Katherine, NT, to the North-East, their range reaching the North coast near the Alligator River. Helmeted Friarbirds, race "yorki", have a preference for closed forest and densely vegetated parks and gardens, while race "gordoni" specializes in mangroves. Inland race "ammitophila" is found primarily in sandstone areas.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "yorki" B. Hensen found Helmeted Friarbirds, race "yorki", at Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, in July 2013. M. Eaton reports spotting Helmeted Friarbirds, race "yorki", semi-regularly in various locations along the eastern coastline of QLD. A. Lee reports finding Helmeted Friarbirds, race "yorki", regularly at East Russell, near Cairns, QLD. They were found nesting there in November/December 2020. A. Ross-Taylor found Helmeted Friarbirds, race "yorki", at Daintree NP, QLD, in May 2022. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting a Helmeted Friarbird, race "yorki", at Nerada Tea Estates, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in September 2020. Another was found at Hasties Swamp, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in August 2023. Race "gordoni" B. Hensen reports spotting Helmeted Friarbirds, race "gordoni", in and around Darwin occasionally, e.g. in Casuarina Coastal Reserve. In October 2018 a family with a dependent young was observed. We first spotted a Helmeted Friarbird, race "gordoni", in downtown Darwin, NT, in August 2014. Several contributors report spotting Helmeted Friarbirds, race "gordoni", in Darwin, NT, semi-regularly.

Photos

Race "yorki"

This race is also called the "Horn-billed Friarbird".

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal/lateral view of a pair of Helmeted Friarbirds (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Daintree NP, QLD, May 2022]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, October 2024]

Close-up frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, October 2024]

Frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird with pollen stuck to its bill looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kuranda, near Cairns, QLD, July 2018]

Frontal/ventral view of a Helmeted Friarbird looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, QLD, December 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, October 2024]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Nerada Tea Estates, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, September 2020]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, QLD, December 2020]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, November 2018]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Hasties Swamp, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, August 2023]

Lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Loyalty Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Loyalty Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Dorsal view of a preening Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Dorsal view of a preening Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Dorsal view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Loyalty Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Race "gordoni"

This race is also called the "Melville Island Friarbird".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 26 January 2018
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek Point, Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird, different posture; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 26 January 2018
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek Point, Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Frontal/ventral view of a Helmeted Friarbird looking sideways; this is the adult bird whose calls were recorded on 12 March 2020 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Jingili Water Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Lateral portrait of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, December 2015]

Lateral/ventral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Jingili Water Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2018]

Lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Jingili Water Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal and lateral view of two juvenile Helmeted Friarbirds; these are the birds whose begging calls were recorded on 12 March 2020 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Jingili Water Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Helmeted Friarbird
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Lateral view of a fledgling Helmeted Friarbird; note the still incomplete tail (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

Dorsal view of a fledgling Helmeted Friarbird begging for food (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Apr

Eggs: 2 - 5

Incubation period: 16 - 17? days

Fledging age: 18 - 20? days

Nest building: Female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Suspended basket

Material: Bark strips, twigs, vine tendrils, webs

Height above ground: 2 - 15 m

Pair of Helmeted Friarbirds at their nest; one bird is incubating, the partner is in attendance on the left
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]

Helmeted Friarbird sitting - well-hidden - on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Etty Bay, QLD, October 2024]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 34 x 23 mm

Colour: Creamy, with copious large brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food, Diet

Frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird feeding on the nectar of a Grevillea (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, October 2024]

Frontal view of a Helmeted Friarbird feeding on nectar (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Loyalty Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Helmeted Friarbird taking nectar (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Nerada Tea Estates, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, September 2020]

Lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird feeding on the nectar of a Grevillea (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, October 2024]

Lateral view of a Helmeted Friarbird feeding on nectar (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2013]

Helmeted Friarbird feeding on berries (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, June 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

helmfry_20140816.m4a	gordoni (Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls?	© MD
helmfry_pb_20180126.m4a	gordoni (Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls?	© PB
helmfry_pb_20200312.m4a	gordoni (Darwin, NT)	Begging calls & adult's response	© PB
helmfry_pb_20210206_2.m4a	gordoni (Darwin, NT)	Various (family with 2 juveniles)	© PB
helmfry_pb_20210206_3.m4a	gordoni (Darwin, NT)	Various (family with 2 juveniles)	© PB

More Helmeted Friarbird sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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