Crested Bellbird

Overview

The crested bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) is a medium-sized passerine bird native to the drier regions of Australia. Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, the species is generally common across its range, though it faces threats from habitat fragmentation in specific areas such as Victoria.

Identification

• Males are approximately 20 cm long with a grey head, a raised black crest, and a prominent black breast, while the body is grey or olive brown.
• Females and juveniles are similar but have more muted colours, lack the black breast, and possess a smaller, unraised crest.
• Both sexes feature distinctive orange-red eyes.
• The call is a high-pitched, bell-like sound (often described as did-did-did-dit) that is ventriloquial and can be heard from over half a kilometre away.

Habitat

This species inhabits semi-arid coastlines and the drier interior of Australia, particularly in acacia scrublands, eucalypt woodlands, spinifex, saltbush plains, and dunes. It is distributed throughout most of the continent west of the Great Dividing Range, extending from tropical northern Australia to South Australia and Western Australia, while avoiding the far north, humid east, and extreme south-west.

Diet

The crested bellbird feeds on invertebrates and seeds. It forages by hopping rapidly on the ground or flying low between shrubs and tree branches, usually as a solitary forager but sometimes in pairs during the breeding season or in mixed flocks with other species.

Did you know?

During nest construction, the bird places live caterpillars with nipped necks in and around the nest, which is theorised to serve either as a food cache for the family or as a defensive barrier against predators.