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White-browed BabblerAlternate name(s): "White-eyebrowed Chatterer", "Go-away", "Stick-bird", "Kangaroo-bird", "Jumper", "Happy Family*", "Cackler*" ![]() Size: 19-22 cm Weight: 30-45 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "superciliosus"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla Conservation Park, Whyalla, SA, June 2022]
Frontal view of a White-browed Babbler looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla Conservation Park, Whyalla, SA, June 2022]
Lateral view of a White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Bronzewing State Forest, near Patchewollock, VIC, October 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, June 2023]
Lateral view of a White-browed Babbler
[Flinders
Ranges, SA, March 2008]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-frontal/near-lateral view of 2 juvenile White-browed Babblers -
note the buff frontal part of the supercilia
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, June 2023]
Lateral view of a juvenile White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, June 2023]
Lateral view of a juvenile White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla Conservation Park, Whyalla, SA, June 2022]
Lateral view of 2 juvenile White-browed Babblers
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, June 2023]
Race "gilgandra"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a White-browed Babbler, with another moving in
the background
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, June 2022]
Frontal view of a White-browed Babbler looking sideways
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, December 2022]
Near-frontal view of a White-browed Babbler
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2021]
Near-frontal view of a preening White-browed Babbler
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, March 2016]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a White-browed Babbler
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, March 2016]
Near-lateral view of a White-browed Babbler
[Leard State Forest, near
Maules Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, August 2021]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, May 2022]
Lateral view of a White-browed Babbler
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a juvenile White-browed Babbler - note the
buff supercilium
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]
Race "ashbyi"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]
Frontal view of two White-browed Babblers
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Merredin, WA, February 2015]
Near-lateral view of a White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]
Near-lateral view of two White-browed Babblers
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Merredin, WA, February 2015]
Two White-browed Babblers (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Merredin, WA, February 2015]
Race "centralis"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Near-frontal view of a White-browed Babbler
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Alice Springs, NT, July 2018]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Jul - Dec | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: 17 - 25 days | Fledging age: 19 - 22 days |
We have noticed a preference of White-browed Babblers in the Narrabri area for nesting in Cypress pines.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Dome | Material: Sticks, with grass and/or feather lining | Height above ground: 1 - 6 m |
Well-protected White-browed Babbler nest
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, August 2021]
"Double-storey" stick nest of a family of White-browed Babblers,
which was still being prepared for use in late December
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]
White-browed Babbler leaving its nest
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]
White-browed Babbler entering its nest
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]
White-browed Babbler carrying nesting material
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, December 2012]
This nest, made out of sticks, is approximately oval in shape
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2008]
The following photos demonstrate that White-browed Babblers, although usually building somewhat chaotic-looking stick nests, do not shy away from re-using a mudnest (without sticks or dense vegetation to hide it).
White-browed Babbler approaching its nest, a reused nest of
White-winged Choughs
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, near
Maules Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Here one can see the White-browed Babbler's tail sticking out on the left
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, near
Maules Creek, NSW, November 2012]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 25 x 17 mm | Colour: Mid-brown with strong colour pattern | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Family clan |
Like other babblers, White-browed Babblers build roosts, on which they stay overnight.
White-browed Babbler roost; to the best of our knowledge this is
NOT a nest
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, September 2014]
White-browed Babbler roost
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, September 2015]
White-browed Babblers form tight-knit family units. Allopreening is used regularly as a bonding ritual.
Near-frontal view of a preening White-browed Babbler
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2021]
Near-frontal view of the same preening White-browed Babbler,
now receiving a treat from its mate
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2021]
Here the White-browed Babbler first receiving a treat is
reciprocating the favour
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2021]
This White-browed Babbler was observed while calling softly;
two mates responded and started preening it from both sides
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, March 2016]
White-browed Babblers are very active birds; when they are foraging on the ground, soil can be seen flying.
Lateral view of a White-browed Babbler foraging on the ground
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2021]
Lateral view of a White-browed Babbler foraging on the ground,
sending dirt flying
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2021]
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Food, Diet |
Like all other babblers of the Pomatostomus family, White-browed Babblers hunt for insects and their larvae in trees and on the ground.
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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.
whbrbab_me_20220605.m4a |
superciliosus (S SA) |
Various | © ME | |
whbrbab_20220502.m4a |
gilgandra (NW NSW) |
Contact calls? | © MD | |
whbrbab_20210515.m4a |
gilgandra (NW NSW) |
Various (family clan of 5) | © MD | |
whbrbab_20220502_3.m4a |
gilgandra (NW NSW) |
Various, incl. alarm (large family clan) | © MD | |
whbrbab_20180930.m4a |
gilgandra (NW NSW) |
? (disturbed; returning to nest) | © MD | |
whbrbab_20180930_2.m4a |
gilgandra (NW NSW) |
? (disturbed; returning to nest) | © MD | |
whbrbab_jg_20150210.m4a |
ashbyi (SW WA) |
? | © JG |
We have also been able to record wing beats of White-browed Babblers.
whbrbab_20220502_2.m4a |
gilgandra (NW NSW) |
Fluttering in alarm | © MD |
More White-browed Babbler sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.