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White-winged ChoughAlternate name(s): "Jackdaw*", "Black Magpie*", "Black Jay", "Muttonbird*"; Misnomer: "Apostlebird*"  Aboriginal name(s): "wuyuu" [gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay]Size: 43-47 cm Weight: 290-450 g |
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Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "melanorhamphos"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Full-frontal view of a White-winged Chough eyeing its prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2021]
Frontal view of a White-winged Chough
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2021]
Near-frontal view of a White-winged Chough right out of the bathtub...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]
(Partly obscured) near-lateral view of a White-winged Chough
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2019]
Near-lateral view of a White-winged Chough fanning its wings
and thereby exposing the white wing feathers
[Eulah Creek, NSW]
Lateral view of an adult White-winged Chough
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2017]
Lateral view of a White-winged Chough that, while scratching
itself, exhibits a greenish-grey sheen on its back
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2012]
Near-lateral view of an excited White-winged Chough sentry
that was observed wagging its tail and bobbing its head while
calling out to warn the rest of the clan
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]
Lateral view of a White-winged Chough that, while scratching itself,
has its eyes closed
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]
Lateral/ventral view of a White-winged Chough struggling to gain
balance on a thin branch
[Near Narrabri, NSW, February 2008]
Near-dorsal view of a scruffy-looking White-winged Chough
with worn feathers that look wiry from wear and tear
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]
Near-dorsal view of a White-winged Chough
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]
Near-dorsal view of a White-winged Chough with unusually
prominent white bars visible on the folded wings
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, March 2016]
Dorsal view of a White-winged Chough with a clear view of
the white wing panels
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2019]
Dorsal view of a White-winged Chough; note the grey-blueish
tint of the plumage
and the bird's prominent red eye
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]
Dorsal view of a White-winged Chough in a relaxed state; its
iris is more brownish (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
This dorsal view of a White-winged Chough fanning its wings and tail
feathers in a social display demonstrates clearly that the white
patches are also visible from the underside of the wings
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2009]
Clear view of a White-winged Chough's white wing patches
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, June 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of an adult White-winged Chough, right, with red irises,
and a juvenile bird, right, with dark irises
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingaroy, QLD, June 2018]
Immature White-winged Chough with its prey; this bird was observed
by us helping to feed a juvenile
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Lateral view of a juvenile White-winged Chough
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Lateral view of a preening juvenile White-winged Chough
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2021]
Juvenile White-winged Chough with drooping wings on a 43 C hot day
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2013]
Juvenile White-winged Chough begging for (correction: demanding!) food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Close-up frontal view of a fledgling White-winged Chough
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
Close-up frontal view of a fledgling White-winged Chough
[Rocky Creek, near Bingara, NSW, October 2020]
Close-up frontal view of a fledgling White-winged Chough
[Rocky Creek, near Bingara, NSW, October 2020]
Close-up near-frontal view of a fledgling White-winged Chough
[Rocky Creek, near Bingara, NSW, October 2020]
Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a fledgling White-winged Chough
[Rocky Creek, near Bingara, NSW, October 2020]
Lateral view of a fledgling White-winged Chough being fed
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 5 | Incubation period: 19 days | Fledging age: 28 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.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Mud bowl | Material: Mud | Height above ground: 5 - 15 m |
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Additional information |
We have found White-winged Chough nests, which are the largest mud nests to be found in Australia, re-used by other species, such as Common Bronzewings and White-browed Babblers. Mud nests are sought after by several bird species. We have compiled some more information on the (re-)use of mud nests.
White-winged Choughs 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.
Near-fledging age White-winged Chough chicks waiting to be fed
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, March 2016]
White-winged Chough feeding its chicks
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, March 2016]
Obviously, one mouthful is not enough for two hungry
White-winged Chough chicks (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, March 2016]
Near-lateral view of a near-fledging age White-winged Chough chick
in its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2014]
Lateral view of a near-fledging age White-winged Chough chick
in its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2014]
One of the White-winged Chough parents keeping a watchful eye on
the photographer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2014]
White-winged Chough chicks in their messy nest
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]
White-winged Choughs feeding their 3 young chicks
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]
White-winged Chough sitting on its nest incubating
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Old Coach Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2014]
White-winged Chough returning to its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]
A brief look inside...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]
...then go and sit
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]
White-winged Chough bowl that has been recycled and upgraded
from previous years
[Maules Creek, NSW, September 2011]
White-winged Chough with a good load of mud and
casuarina
leaves for reinforcement
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, October 2015]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 40 x 31 mm | Colour: Creamy, sparsely speckled with brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Family clan |
White-winged Choughs can get very excited - note the irises
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Girraween NP,
QLD, February 2021]
In September 2020,
V. Collins observed a
White-winged Chough on its nest, with the partner in close attendance,
while being watched from a nearby tree by an
Australian Raven
(all photos courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2020]
There is a separate page describing a family clan of White-winged Choughs feeding a nesting α-female.
Example of a family of White-winged Choughs sitting under a small tree
in a compact configuration; the birds stayed like that for at least 15
minutes - there was no obvious threat or excessive heat, so this may
have been a group bonding ritual
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
For reasons unknown to us here a whole clan of White-winged Choughs
ducked low, hugging the ground, while there was no threat to them,
so this may have been a group bonding ritual;
note how the whole group stays in a shady area
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2012]
When we observed a family clan of White-winged Choughs away from the busy parts of the Warrumbungle NP it was clear that they had posted two sentries to protect the group on the ground: One advance guard and a rear guard, who were in constant contact with those on the ground. When necessary, the sentries gave a warning, but the group only reacted when the leader of the pack on the ground acknowledged this.
Near camping and picnic facilities, where they are used to the presence of humans, the sentries take part in the activities of the flock on the ground.
In March 2011 we observed 4 (probably related) family clans foraging close to each other in our rural garden, with a total of about 30 members.
Dorsal view of a sentry watching over a clan of about 20 White-winged Choughs
Family clan of White-winged Choughs on a dead tree trunk
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingaroy, QLD, June 2018]
This adult White-winged Chough (front) is clearly excited, after just
feeding the juvenile bird behind it
Similar to many parrots and cockatoos and also Australian Magpies juvenile White-winged Choughs display playful behaviour, as can be seen in the photo below.
Juvenile White-winged Chough playing with a dead branch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, 2006]
White-winged Choughs were observed by us hustling a Lace Monitor, a 1.2-m long goanna. However, when swooped by two Australian Magpies, we have seen a clan of seven White-winged Choughs form a defensive ring, everybody facing outwards and ducking for cover. Even family clans of up to 20 birds will duck for cover when a single Australian Magpie hustles them.
White-winged Choughs are often seen by us together with Apostlebirds.
Clan of White-winged Choughs foraging together
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]
Clan of White-winged Choughs foraging together with a clan of
Apostlebirds
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
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Food, Diet |
White-winged Choughs forage on the ground for insects, larvae, worms and other small animals. R. Druce reports having observed a White-winged Chough taking nestlings of Superb Fairy-wrens.
White-winged Chough taking a beetle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2012]
This White-winged Chough has something in its bill that might be a
small stone or a lerp
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]
White-winged Chough with a stolen pecan nut
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, June 2018]
White-winged Chough foraging for grubs coming out of the ground
during rain
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
White-winged Choughs checking whether a kangaroo, while digging
out its pad, has not disturbed something edible; the rest of the
clan is having a break in the tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]
White-winged Chough drinking at the shallow, muddy bank of a
farm dam (photo
courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2013]
White-winged Chough family clan drinking from a bird bath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2023]
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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.
| wchough_20140109.mp3 |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Warning calls | © MD | |
| wchough_20140109_2.mp3 |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Warning calls | © MD | |
| wchough_20140515.mp3 |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Warning calls | © MD | |
| wchough_20190725.m4a |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Alarm calls (Aust. Magpie) | © MD | |
| wchough_20140404.mp3 |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Alarm call (cat) | © MD | |
| wchough_20151021.m4a |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Alarm (vehicle) | © MD | |
| wchough_20140515_2.mp3 |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Group chatter (foraging) | © MD | |
| wchough_20140203.mp3 |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Group chatter | © MD | |
| wchough_20201014.m4a |
melanorhamphos (NW NSW) |
Begging calls fledglings (+ others in bkgd) |
© MD |
More White-winged Chough sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.