Australian mudnester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian mudnesters |
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| White-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily: | Corvoidea |
| Family: | Corcoracidae Mathews 1927 |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
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Struthideidae Mathews 1924 |
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The Australian mudnesters are a unique family of passerine birds, which means they are perching birds. This family, officially known as Corcoracidae, includes just two fascinating species: the white-winged chough and the apostlebird. Both of these birds are special because they are found only in Australia.
These birds get their name "mudnesters" because of the amazing mud nests they build. While the family is called Corcoracidae today, it was sometimes known as Struthideidae in the past. However, Corcoracidae is the name that is used now.
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Where Mudnesters Live
Both Australian mudnesters live in the eastern parts of Australia. They prefer open areas like eucalypt (gum tree) forests and woodlands. These are places where the trees don't form a completely closed roof overhead.
The apostlebird can also live in drier areas, such as arid woodlands and shrublands. Both species are quite adaptable. They can often be found in places where people live or farm, like farmlands, suburban areas, parks, and even gardens.
What Mudnesters Look Like
Mudnesters are medium-sized perching birds. The apostlebird is smaller, growing to about 31 centimeters (12 inches) long. The white-winged chough is larger, averaging about 47 centimeters (18.5 inches).
They have long legs and short, rounded wings, which are perfect for birds that spend a lot of time on the ground. The biggest differences between the two species are their colors and the shape of their bills.
The apostlebird is mostly grey with brown wings and a black tail. Its bill is short and deep, a bit like a finch's bill. The white-winged chough is black with bright white patches on its wings. It has a long, curved bill, similar to the choughs found in other parts of the world.
These different bill shapes help them eat in different ways. Apostlebirds use their bills for picking up small items, while white-winged choughs use their curved bills to flick away leaf litter to find food underneath.
Mudnester Behaviour and Social Life
Both mudnester species are very social birds. They spend much of their time searching for food on the ground, moving with a special walking style. They also call to each other almost constantly, staying in touch with their group.
If a person or animal disturbs them, they will fly to a nearby tree. They wait there for the danger to pass, often sitting close together. Sometimes they even preen each other's feathers, which is called allopreening. In places like picnic areas, these birds can become quite used to humans and may even seem very tame.
Mudnester Family Groups
Mudnester social groups are usually centered around a main male and female pair. The number of birds in a group can range from two to twenty. A typical white-winged chough group has about six birds, while apostlebird groups often have seven to nine birds.
These birds do not migrate, meaning they stay in the same area all year. During the breeding season, they protect a specific area of land, called a territory. This territory is usually about 20 hectares (50 acres) in size. After the young birds leave the nest, the group might explore a larger area.
When one of the main breeding birds passes away, the group might split up. The remaining main bird will then gather young birds from their group and find another single bird to start a new group. Most new birds joining a group are youngsters from previous breeding seasons.
These young "helpers" are very important for raising chicks successfully. In fact, white-winged choughs have been known to encourage young birds from other groups to join their own. This helps their group grow stronger and have more helpers.
Building Nests and Raising Young
As their name suggests, mudnesters build their nests from mud. These nests are shaped like bowls and can take several days to build. It takes even longer if there isn't enough mud available, perhaps because of dry weather.
They build nests when rain creates muddy puddles, making mud easy to find. If a nest is still in good condition, they might even reuse it. Each time they lay eggs, called a clutch, there are usually three to five oval-shaped eggs.
All members of the group help to keep the eggs warm, a process called incubation, for about twenty days. Feeding and caring for the young chicks are also shared duties within the group. Mudnesters have a very long period of caring for their young after they hatch. It can take up to 200 days for the young birds to become fully independent from their parents and helpers.
Species of Australian Mudnesters
- White-winged chough, Corcorax melanorhamphos
- Apostlebird, Struthidea cinerea
See also
In Spanish: Corcorácidos para niños
