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18

Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus) Alternate name(s): "(Knobby-nose) Leatherhead", "Monk", "Four-o'-clock Pimlico", "Poor Soldier" Aboriginal name(s): Race "monachus": "dhaguway" [yuwaalaraay]; "currabubula" [gamilaraay]; "galgurang"/"gulgulang" [bundjalung]; Race "corniculatus": "jagaru" [ngadjon] Size: 30-35 cm Weight: 85-130 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 Noisy Friarbirds are large nectar-eating birds. They have an almost entirely bald head covered with dark-grey to black skin, which is roughly the same colour as the long, down-curved bill and the prominent knob (casque). They have a narrow brown eyebrow and a silvery-grey throat. The neck and chest are prominently frilled with silver-grey feathers that are erected when calling or excited. Belly and vent are a light shade of greyish-brown. The back is darker grey-brown, while the wings are darker greyish-brown yet. The tail is grey and has a square-shaped end. The irises are red; the legs and feet are dark-grey. Juveniles, next to the brown eyebrow, have brown stripes below the eyes and on the neck. Twitcher's tip Noisy Friarbirds are the only species of Australian friarbirds that have an entirely bald head. The photos below illustrate how they received their local nickname of "Leatherheads".

Taxonomy, classification See Noisy 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 Noisy Friarbird is available HERE . Noisy Friarbirds can be found in southern New Guinea and in eastern Australia. Noisy Friarbirds are found only in the eastern quarter of the Australian continent. Their range is limited, with only minor deviations, by a straight line from just to the West of the tip of Cape York peninsula going almost straight South, to Melbourne, VIC. They can be found anywhere within this range, in various kinds of habitat, wherever there is good nectar to be found. They do not cross the Bass Strait to Tasmania. Nominate race "corniculatus", which are endemic breeders, are found North of about Mackay, QLD. Race "monachus" populates the rest of the range, which is basically South-East QLD, the eastern 2/3 of NSW and the eastern half of VIC. Noisy Friarbirds can usually be found in open forest and woodland, where there are flowering trees. They take nectar from various types of flowers, including different species of eucalypts, but they particularly like the flowers of grevilleas, especially Grevillea robusta. Noisy Friarbirds adapt very well to the presence of humans and will enter urban parks and gardens, often terrorising everybody else in the defense of their food source. Where to look? How to find this species? While feeding in eucalypts, honeyeaters often stay high up in the crowns of trees and are therefore hard to spot. But many species, including Noisy Friarbirds, will also visit lower plants to feed on nectar in gardens, such as e.g. Eremophila, Banksia, Grevillea or Callistemon. There they are much easier to spot.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "monachus" Noisy Friarbirds, race "monachus", were visible (and audible!) around our place 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, basically every day during the years 2003-2006, except the coldest season. They are often so busy chasing each other, other birds or feeding that it is quite easy to take photos of them. At Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri. they usually come in groups of several birds during spring and summer, or whenever there are large numbers of flowers to feed on. Noisy Friarbirds, race "monachus", are found commonly in many different locations in inland NSW, and we have spotted them almost everywhere along the NSW coast as well. R. Plumtreereports finding a Noisy Friarbird, race "monachus", at Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, in January 2018. This location is near the southern boundary of the species' range. In May 2018 we found Noisy Friarbirds, race "monachus", in good numbers between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW, near the western edge of their range.

Photos

Race "monachus"

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here .

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal portrait of a nosy Noisy Friarbird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Noisy Friarbird looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Frontal view illustrating how Noisy Friarbirds got their nickname, "Leatherhead"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Interesting detail: one can look straight through a Noisy Friarbird's nostrils
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]

Frontal view of a Noisy Friarbird issuing its call;
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2011]

Near-frontal view of a Noisy Friarbird issuing its call; one can see how the neck feathers are spread like a frilled collar
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2011]

Near-frontal view of a Noisy Friarbird (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Near-lateral view of a Noisy Friarbird calling
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2012]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Noisy Friarbird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Lateral view of some Noisy Friarbird acrobatics...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]

Dorsal view of a Noisy Friarbird on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

Here a Noisy Friarbird preening; again one can look straight through the bird's nostrils (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)

Noisy Friarbird taking off from a grevillea flower (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2014]

If in spring or autumn you see a flock of 20-50 of these birds passing by over your head (notably silent!), it could be Noisy Friarbirds relocating to where there is nectar to be found
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Juvenile Noisy Friarbird, front left, with an adult behind it (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St Albans, NSW, February 2017]

Frontal view of a juvenile Noisy Friarbird; note the tiny casque and the feathers at the back of the head
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, Ocotober 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Noisy Friarbird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Noisy Friarbird (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, Ocotober 2013]

Ventral view of a Noisy Friarbird with a recently fledged chick
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, January 2023]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 4

Incubation period: 17 days

Fledging age: 20 days

Nest

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

Type: Suspended basket

Material: Bark strips and grass, lined with fine grass and wool

Height above ground: 2 - 20 m

Additional information

A. Morris and S. Grey report that some bird species, most notably Leaden Flycatchers, like to take advantage of the protection offered by nesting under a Noisy Friarbird nest. There is now a separate page about various bird species nesting under the umbrella of a stronger, protective species.

Noisy Friarbird nest in a eucalypt tree
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

This Noisy Friarbird has decided that its nest needs no camouflage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

Noisy Friarbird sitting on its nest
[Bingara, NSW, October 2020]

Noisy Friarbird bringing nesting material to its almost complete nest
[Glacial Valley near Rocky Creek, NSW, September 2008]

The inside still requires some improvements
[Glacial Valley near Rocky Creek, NSW, September 2008]

Eggs

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

Size: 35 x 24 mm

Colour: Creamy, with brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair/flock

Noisy Friarbirds are the most aggressive nectar-eating species in Australia. Although territorial, they congregate in large numbers where there is food to be found. Especially when the seasons change and nectar-eating species need to move to find flowering trees, Noisy Friarbirds can be seen "raiding" trees in groups of up to 50 birds.

Noisy Friarbirds are very aggressive, not only amongst each other, but also towards other competitors for food; here a disagreement between Noisy Friarbirds about who gets to feed first in a flowering tree
[Near Narrabri, NSW, March 2013]

Food, Diet

Like many other honeyeaters, Noisy Friarbirds do not exclusively feed on nectar, but use their sticky tongue to take insects too. Known to feed on fruit as well.

Close-up frontal view of a Noisy Friarbird with pollen all over its bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Noisy Friarbird feasting in a Lemon-scented gumtree (eucalypt)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2014]

Noisy Friarbird feeding in a Grevillea (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, May 2013]

Noisy Friarbird feeding in a clump of Mistletoe
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Noisy Friarbird feeding on nectar in a garden (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, February 2017]

Close-up view of a Noisy Friarbird feeding on the nectar of a bottlebrush
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2022]

Close-up view of a Noisy Friarbird feeding on the nectar of a bottlebrush
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2022]

Close-up dorsal view of a Noisy Friarbird taking fruit from a type of native Dwarf Cherry (Exocarpos strictus)
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Hunter Economic Zone, Kurri Kurri, NSW, November 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Noisy Friarbird with its prey, a Giant Wood Moth (Endoxyla cinereus); this is one example of prey in the end getting away (photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Tomalpin Woodlands, near Puddles, NSW, December 2022]

Noisy Friarbird devouring a large insect, possibly a cicada
[Warrumbungle NP, NSW, December 2012]

Noisy Friarbird taking a cicada (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2012]

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.

noifriar_20170810.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Contact call	© MD
noifriar_20181014.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Contact call	© MD
noifriar_20200525_3.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Contact call	© MD
noifriar_20171101_2.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Territorial call(?)	© MD
noifriar_20171101_3.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Territorial call(?)	© MD
noifriar_20150920.mp3	monachus (NW NSW)	Q&A	© MD
noifriar_20220816.mp3	monachus (NW NSW)	Various incl. distress calls	© MD
noifriar_20200531.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Mass feeding event + departure	© MD
noifriar_20181008_4.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Defending food source	© MD
noifriar_20181008.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Competing over food source	© MD
noifriar_20181008_5.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Competing over food source	© MD
noifriar_20200525.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Many competing over food source	© MD
noifriar_20170912.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	Fighting over food source (against Blue-faced Honeyeaters)	© MD
noifriar_20140423.mp3	monachus (NW NSW)	Annoyed call (with Galah)	© MD
noifriar_20140502_5.mp3	monachus (NW NSW)	Stand-off (with Olive-backed Oriole)	© MD
noifriar_20141018_4.mp3	monachus (NW NSW)	Shut up by Galahs	© MD
noifriar_art_20131120.m4a	monachus (SE QLD)	Feeding call?	© ART
noifriar_20200929.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	"Currabubula" call	© MD
noifriar_20200525_2.m4a	monachus (NW NSW)	?	© MD
noifriar_20230216.mp3	monachus (NW NSW)	? (juvenile on its own)	© MD

Click here for more recordings

More Noisy 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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Mon, 20 February 2023, 1:50 +00:00