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Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) Alternate name(s): "Lousy Jack", "Family-bird", "Grey Jumper", "12 Apostles", "Happy Family*", "CWA Bird" Size: 29-33 cm; wing span: 45-50 cm Body mass: 110-135 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.40-0.48

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Apostlebirds are smaller than their closest relative, the White-winged Chough. Their plumage is heavily streaked grey on the front and heavily scalloped grey on the back, except for the greyish-brown flight feathers and the long, dark-grey tail. The lores are darker grey than the rest of the head. The eyes have dark-brown irises. The short, stout bill is dark-grey; the legs and feet are also dark-grey. Juveniles are less streaked/scalloped than adults. In addition, their flight feathers are not greyish-brown, but plain grey, like the rest of the plumage.

Taxonomy, classification See Apostlebird 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 Apostlebird is available HERE . There are two races of Apostlebirds, both of which are endemic to Australia. Nominate race "cinerea" populates inland NSW and QLD, up to the Paroo River. Their range extends a bit further South-East from Broken Hill, NSW, to just North-East of Adelaide, SA. They are not found on the fringe along the East or South coast (and thereby basically not in VIC at all, except for small areas around the border with NSW). In central QLD, a line connecting roughly the Whitsundays with Diamantina NP marks the transition to race "dalyi", which has a limited range. They are found only in northern QLD (except Cape York peninsula) and the northern central NT (southward of Katherine, NT, and also to the South-East, there possibly connecting with the population in QLD, whose normal range ends just shy of the QLD/NT border. Historical records indicate that until at least the 1950ies Apostlebirds were also found in the Kimberley in WA. Apostlebirds have a preference for open forest and woodland, also often near roadsides or on farmland with scattered trees. They adapt well to the presence of humans and can often be found near picnic or barbecue areas in parks. Where to look? How to find this species? Usually the way one comes across a family clan of Apostlebirds is by walking along in wooded areas, when one will start hearing a variety of scratchy calls from a mob of grey birds. Although often curious, Apostlebirds are very vigilant and don't like to be approached. One will normally find a mob perched at a height of a few meters that is, when found, studying the observer. Apostlebirds not used to the continuous presence of humans had better not be upset in the process of observing them, because their noisy alarms will make other species leave the area.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cinerea" Apostlebirds, race "cinerea", are a common sight in inland NSW, including the Narrabri area. They are often seen foraging through foliage by the roadside in groups of around 10-12. They are very cunning birds that can adapt to humans around them quite easily and they can estimate speeds (of cars) with extreme accuracy. Apostlebirds, race "cinerea", were found by us as far inland as 5 km West of Walgett, NSW, on the banks of the Barwon River, in June 2012. G. Schoorl reports finding Apostlebirds, race "cinerea", further West yet, along the Kidman Highway between Cobar and Bourke, NSW. M. Eaton also spotted Apostlebirds, race "cinerea", in Bourke, NSW, in June 2022. Race "dalyi" Both P. Brown and A. Ross-Taylor report finding Apostlebirds, race "dalyi", in the township of Katherine, NT, in July 2020. M. Eaton spotted Apostlebirds, race "dalyi", in the township of Longreach, QLD, in June 2021. A. Ross-Taylor found Apostlebirds, race "dalyi", on the Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in May 2022. They were also found near Longreach, QLD, in May 2023. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports finding Apostlebirds, race "dalyi", at the Forever Wild Shared Earth Reserve, Mareeba, QLD, in July 2020.

Photos

Race "cinerea"

ADULT

PAIR

Close-up near-frontal view of a pair of Apostlebirds keeping a keen eye on the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2023]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Apostlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bourke, NSW, June 2022]

Frontal/ventral view of an Apostlebird sentry approaching the intruder with its tail fanned
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]

Close-up near-frontal portrait of an Apostlebird
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, May 2006]

Close-up near-frontal view of an Apostlebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2025]

Near-frontal view of an Apostlebird sentry
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Near-lateral view of an Apostlebird looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bourke, NSW, June 2022]

Close-up lateral portrait of an Apostlebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2026]

Close-up lateral view of an Apostlebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2025]

Close-up lateral view of an Apostlebird coming in for a drink and a bath; while they are using the waterhole (usually as a group), nobody else will normally be tolerated around
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2007]

Lateral view of an Apostlebird on the ground (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Here an example of why Apostlebirds are also called "Familybirds"
[Eulah Creek, NSW]

Lateral view of an Apostlebird in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Leucistic Apostlebirds

All photos of leucistic Apostlebirds shown below were kindly contributed by V. Collins.

Family clan of Apostlebirds with two leucistic individuals in their ranks (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2021]

Family clan of Apostlebirds with one of two leucistic individuals in their ranks (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a leucistic Apostlebird following an adult, suggesting that it may be a juvenile (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a leucistic Apostlebird following an adult, suggesting that it may be a juvenile (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2021]

Dorsal view of a leucistic Apostlebird with two normal individuals (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

It is not well documented in field guides that there is a relatively easy way of telling apart adults and juveniles. The dorsal photos presented here show that adults have brown flight feathers, while juveniles have grey flight feathers, like the rest of their plumage.

Frontal view of a juvenile Apostlebird; this is the bird whose begging calls were recorded on 2 December 2020
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2020]

(Near-)dorsal view of an adult Apostlebird, right, with a dependent juvenile in tow; note the differet colour of the flight feathers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Apostlebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Apostlebird looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Birds found far inland

Apostlebirds found far inland can look more reddish-brown, in accordance with the soil, than closer to the Great Dividing Range (photo courtesy of G. Schoorl)
[Kidman Highway between Cobar and Bourke, NSW, February 2017]

Apostlebirds found far inland can look more reddish-brown, in accordance with the soil, than closer to the Great Dividing Range (photo courtesy of G. Schoorl)
[Kidman Highway between Cobar and Bourke, NSW, February 2017]

Race "dalyi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of an Apostlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Forever Wild Shared Earth Reserve, Mareeba, QLD, in July 2020]

Frontal/near-frontal view of 3 Apostlebirds (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Atherton Tablelands, QLD, May 2022]

Near-frontal view of an Apostlebird (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Longreach, QLD, May 2023]

Near-frontal view of an Apostlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Longreach, QLD, June 2021]

Near-frontal view of an adult Apostlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Longreach, QLD, June 2021]

Near-lateral view of an Apostlebird (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Longreach, QLD, May 2023]

Close-up lateral view of an Apostlebird looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Longreach, QLD, June 2021]

Close-up lateral view of an Apostlebird (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Forever Wild Shared Earth Reserve, Mareeba, QLD, in July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of an Apostlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Longreach, QLD, June 2021]

Lateral view of an Apostlebird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of two Apostlebirds (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Longreach, QLD, June 2021]

Lateral view of three Apostlebirds (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Jan

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 18 days

Fledging age: 14 - 21 days

There can be communal breeding, with more than one female laying eggs into the same nest. All family members help care for the chicks. Apostlebirds may try to take over other species' mud nests, especially Magpie-larks'.

Ok, mate, off you go... (male Apostlebird dismounting)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Nest

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

Type: Mud bowl

Material: Mud

Height above ground: 2 - 20 m

D. Johnston reports of Apostlebirds using wet cow dung in inland Australia in times of drought, when there is no mud to be found.

Additional information

Mud nests are sought after by several bird species. We have compiled some more information on the (re-)use of mud nests.

Apostlebirds can often be found nesting under or near nests of other species; on a separate page we have collected some more information about clustered nesting.

Frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Apostlebird chick on its first day out of the nest; this bird was ca. 10 m from the nest, in a nearby tree, while its 2 siblings were still back inside (shown below)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2024]

Two near-fledging age Apostlebird chicks hiding in their nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2024]

Near-fledging age Apostlebird chick hiding in its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2024]

Near-frontal view of an Apostlebird getting back on its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2024]

Lateral view of an Apostlebird sitting on its nest incubating; this nest was very likely pinched from a pair of Magpie-larks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2020]

Female Apostlebird approaching its nest with a clutch of chicks in it, while the rest of the family clan remained in a nearby tree; the ring-like structure and the size of the nest compared to the bird indicate that this may be a recycled White-winged Chough nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2008]

When the "all clear" was given, some "TLC" was given to the Apostlebird chicks...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2008]

... before the female Apostlebird sat down again to brood
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2008]

Apostlebird nest on a minor fork in a eucalypt
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Near-frontal view of an Apostlebird bringing food for its brood, a grasshopper
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2024]

Near-lateral view of an Apostlebird smearing mud on its nest and shaping it will swiping motions of the head/bill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Carbine, QLD, October 2024]

Eggs

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

Size: 30 x 22 mm

Colour: Creamy, with brown speckles at the thick end

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Family clan

Apostlebirds are communal in the sense that they live in family clans. Clans as entities/ensembles, however, are territorial.

It is astonishing that Apostlebirds are not found all over Australia, because wherever they show up they are so dominant that others steer clear of them. Amongst others, in the past they hustled our Bantam chickens. Amongst each other Apostlebirds are very sociable, e.g. preening each other. While foraging on the ground, groups of Apostlebirds always have a sentry, often sitting in an elevated spot, warning the others if necessary. Below an example of the sentry issuing a warning and the group's response to that.

Family clan of Apostlebirds going about its business of having a drink and taking a bath; the bird in the foreground is the sentry; at some point it issued a warning call - the response can be seen in the next photo below
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2011]

Here the sentry is joined by six others on the lookout, all securing the perimeter by facing outwards; clearly the call was a warning only, not an alarm, because the group settled down again shortly afterwards
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2011]

Lateral view of a sentry protecting a clan of foraging Apostlebirds
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

How did the Apostlebird on the left move over to the right? It hopped on to and then walked over the backs of its mates while they were studying the photographer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2026]

Apostlebirds are often seen by us together with Grey-crowned Babblers or with White-winged Choughs (but not both at the same time).

Clan of Apostlebirds foraging together with a clan of White-winged Choughs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Clan of Apostlebirds huddling together while preening, even in 35 C heat; this behaviour is a type of bonding ritual
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

D. Johnston reports of Apostlebirds using wet cow dung in inland Australia in times of drought, when there is no mud to be found.

Additional information

Apostlebirds are veritable pests towards other bird species that are nesting. They often "inspect" Magpie-lark nests, which leads to protests from their owners (sound track below). In addition, we have seen Apostlebirds making a nuisance of themselves around nests of species that are of no potential use to them, e.g. Willie Wagtail nests.

apostle_20200120.m4a

cinerea (NW NSW)

"Inspecting" Magpie-lark nest

© MD

We have observed interactions between the various species of mud-nesting birds in Australia. A short page describing some of our observations can be found HERE.

Food, Diet

Apostlebirds have been seen by us to take both seeds and insects, which they usually find on the ground.

Close-up near-frontal/lateral view of two Apostlebirds, one of which has caught a locust
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2025]

Close-up lateral view of an Apostlebird on the ground; the bird has something stuck to its bill that looks like a small insect
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, December 2005]

Close-up near-frontal view of two Apostlebirds having a drink of water bonding ritual
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2008]

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.

apostle_20140107.mp3	cinerea (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
apostle_20260502.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Contact calls?	© MD
apostle_20260502_3.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Contact calls?	© MD
apostle_20190227.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Warning calls (human)	© MD
apostle_20190227_2.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Warning calls	© MD
apostle_20241021.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Warning calls (mob with fledgling)	© MD
apostle_20260502_2.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Curious/ investigating	© MD
apostle_me_20200411.m4a	cinerea (SE QLD)	Various	© ME
apostle_20161024.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
apostle_20201202_2.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
apostle_20201202_1.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile) + response	© MD
apostle_20201114.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	? (Arrival)	© MD
apostle_20210112.m4a	cinerea (NW NSW)	? + departure	© MD

More Apostlebird 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.