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Crested Bellbird

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Introduction:

The nests of Crested Bellbirds often have live,hairy caterpillars placed around the rim.it has been suggested that the adults gather them as a food storage for the sitting bird or as a defence for the nest.

Identification:

The Crested Bellbird is a medium-sized bird. Adult males have grey heads with a raised black crest, a white forehead and throat, and a prominent black breast. The rest of the body is grey or brown and they have orange-red eyes. Females and immature birds are less prominently coloured than the males, lacking the black breast and having a smaller,unraised black crest. This species is also known as the Crested Thrush,as well as having names such as 'Dick-Dick-the Devil'.

Size:

19 cm to 23 cm

Similar Species:

Wedge-bill, Western Whipbird

Distribution:

The Crested Bellbird is endemic to mainland Australia. It occurs west of the Great Dividing Range, in the south of tropical northern Australia, and through South Australia to the west coast of Western Australia.

Habitat:

The Crested Bellbird occurs from semi-arid coastlines to the arid Australia interior. They are found in acacia shrublands, eucalypt woodlands, spinifex and chenopod (saltbush) plains or dunes.

Feeding and Diet:

The Crested Bellbird feeds on invertebrates and some seeds. They forage on the ground or in low shrubs. They are usually solitary or occur in pairs during the breeding season. Sometimes they occur in mixed feeding flocks with Chestnut-rumped Thornbills and Red-capped Robins.

Communication:

Loud, liquid call. Bell-like 'did-did did-did-dit'. The calls are sometimes ventriloqual.

Breeding Behaviours:

The Crested Bellbird forms pairs for the breeding season and makes a cup-shaped nest of twigs, bark or leaves, usually placed in the fork of a tree. Both sexes will incubate the eggs.
Breeding season: August to December
Clutch size: One to four
Incubation: 16 days
Time in nest: 12 days

Conservation Status:

The range of the Crested Bellbird has contracted because of habitat destruction from land clearance, being particularly susceptible to fragmentation. Cats also pose a threat throughout its range. It is listed as threatened in Victoria.
Related Objects:

Related Objects


(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.48035 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Langawirra, Via Broken Hill , (31° 27' S , 142° 8' E), 18 Sep 1908

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.49174 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Langawirra Station, Near Broken Hill , (31° 27' S , 142° 8' E), 27 Sep 1909

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.49175 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Langawirra Station, Near Broken Hill , (31° 27' S , 142° 8' E), 15 Sep 1911

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.50176 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Multagoona, Bourke , (29° 26' S , 145° 40' E), 12 Nov 1910

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.50177 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Multagoona, Bourke , (29° 26' S , 145° 40' E), 12 Nov 1910
O.47046 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, 6 Km E Of Ivanhoe , (32° 55' S , 144° 22' E), 29 Jul 1978

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.39879 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Tomkinson Range: 15.5 Miles S Mt Davies Mining Camp , (26° 10' S , 129° 8' E), 16 Jun 1961

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.54347 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Multagoona, Near Bourke , (29° 26' S , 145° 40' E), 12 Nov 1910

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.52760 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Inverell , (29° 46' S , 151° 7' E), 23 Aug 1919

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.42839 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Round Hill Nature Reserve , (33° 3' S , 146° 12' E), 16 May 1968

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.42257 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Queensland, Simpson Desert , (25° 44' S , 137° 29' E), 28 Jul 1966

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.56787 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Tweed R , (28° 18' S , 153° 27' E), 1897

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.39877 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Mann Range: 20 Miles E Piltadi Rockhole , (26° 8' S , 130° 17' E), 22 Jun 1961

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.39845 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, 13 Ml Nw Byrock , (30° 31' S , 146° 16' E), 25 Feb 1960

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.39789 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Northern Territory, North Rd, 50 Miles W Of Alice Springs , (23° 27' S , 132° 43' E), Sep 1958

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.39689 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, 27 Miles N Of Griffith , (33° 58' S , 146° 4' E), 3 Aug 1955

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.39685 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, 27 Miles N Of Griffith , (33° 58' S , 146° 4' E), 9 Aug 1956

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.38836 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Northern Territory, Mt Conway , (23° 45' S , 133° 25' E), 21 Apr 1952

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.36378 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Buckinbah, Yeoval , (33° 23' S , 149° 10' E), Sep 1886

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.35764 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Victoria, Diamond Hill, Near Bendigo , (36° 48' S , 144° 16' E), 7 Nov 1925

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.35105 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Moree , (29° 28' S , 149° 51' E), 1920

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.42830 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Round Hill Nature Reserve , (33° 3' S , 146° 12' E), 16 May 1968

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.34599 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Queensland, Burrenbilla Station, Cunnamulla , (28° 9' S , 145° 43' E), 21 Oct 1903

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.16471 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Ballingall, Whitton , (34° 14' S , 145° 58' E),
O.70612 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, "Mopone", 13Km North Of Cobar , (31° 18' S , 145° 50' E), 22 Nov 2001

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.69200 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Queensland, Cunnamulla , (28° 4' S , 145° 40' E), 23 Aug 1952
O.66600 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Gundabooka National Park: 500 M W Of Belah Homestead , (30° 33' S , 145° 36' E), 4 Sep 1996
O.66599 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Gundabooka National Park: Barons Tank , (30° 37' 49" S , 145° 37' 51" E), 3 Sep 1996
O.65838 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Queensland, Musselbrook; Murray Springs Rd, 3.2Km From Springs , (18° 36' 13" S , 138° 4' 37" E), 2 Jun 1995

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.55999 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Angledool , (29° 7' S , 147° 54' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.54930 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Victoria, Stawell , (37° 3' S , 142° 47' E), 4 Sep 1914
O.62250 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Queensland, Noonbah Stn, 180Km S Of Longreach , (24° 7' S , 143° 11' E), 21 Oct 1990

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.61147 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Northern Territory, Hermannsburg, Finke R , (23° 57' S , 132° 46' E), 28 Sep 1923

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.61146 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Northern Territory, Tanami Goldfield , (19° 59' S , 129° 43' E), 26 Mar 1910

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.61144 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Tailem Bend , (35° 15' S , 139° 28' E), 3 Sep 1949

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.61140 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Victoria, Pine Plains Station , (35° 26' S , 141° 56' E), 9 Feb 1902

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.61139 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Brindley Park, Merriwa , (32° 6' S , 150° 22' E), 24 Aug 1914

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.57659 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Victoria, Bendigo , (36° 46' S , 144° 17' E), 24 Sep 1936

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.56622 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Langawirra , (31° 27' S , 142° 8' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.55998 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Angledool , (29° 7' S , 147° 54' E),
O.65834 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Queensland, Musselbrook: Murray Springs Rd , (18° 36' S , 138° 4' E), 7 Jun 1995

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.34598 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Langawirra , (31° 27' S , 142° 8' E), 6 Sep 1907

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.15181 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Wellington , (32° 33' S , 148° 57' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.11438 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Wambangalang Via Dubbo , (32° 15' S , 148° 37' E),
A.9346 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Tindarey , (31° 7' S , 145° 50' E),
A.8194 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Barbigal, Dubbo , (32° 14' S , 148° 51' E),
A.18475 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Moolah Station , (32° 39' S , 144° 59' E),
A.18473 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Moolah Station , (32° 39' S , 144° 59' E),
A.18472 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Moolah Station , (32° 39' S , 144° 59' E),
A.18471 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Moolah Station , (32° 39' S , 144° 59' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.19787 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Cardington , (32° 53' S , 148° 54' E),
O.73728.001 - Tissue sample - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Scotia Sancturary (Awc) , (33° 10' 6" S , 141° 12' 13" E), May 2009
O.73727.001 - Tissue sample - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Scotia Sancturary (Awc) , (33° 7' 24" S , 141° E), 18 May 2010
O.73727 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Scotia Sancturary (Awc) , (33° 7' 24" S , 141° E), 18 May 2010
O.73728 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Scotia Sancturary (Awc) , (33° 10' 6" S , 141° 12' 13" E), May 2009
A.18474 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Moolah Station , (32° 39' S , 144° 59' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.26116 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Mcdonall Park , (29° 50' S , 134° 54' E), Apr 1917
A.17421 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Hay , (34° 30' S , 144° 51' E), May 1883

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.28802 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Gulargambone , (31° 20' S , 148° 28' E), 12 May 1910

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.26602 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Port Augusta, 407 Miles W On East-West Line , (30° 34' S , 133° 1' E), Oct 1921

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.26601 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Port Augusta, 407 Miles W On East-West Line , (30° 34' S , 133° 1' E), Oct 1921

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.34597 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, Queensland, Kurrajong Stn, 130Km Sw Gladstone , (24° 43' S , 150° 28' E), 15 Apr 1906

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.26117 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Mcdonall Park , (29° 50' S , 134° 54' E), Apr 1917

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.25896 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Grafton , (29° 41' S , 152° 56' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.24607 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Dubbo , (32° 15' S , 148° 37' E), Oct 1892

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.24606 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Dubbo , (32° 15' S , 148° 37' E), 16 Oct 1892

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.24605 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Wambangalang, Dubbo , (32° 15' S , 148° 37' E), 1893

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.17695 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Baldry , (32° 52' S , 148° 30' E), Nov 1860

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.26571 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Ooldea, East West Line , (30° 27' S , 131° 50' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.23623 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Port Lincoln , (34° 44' S , 135° 52' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.15865 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Invernein, Scone , (32° 3' S , 150° 52' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.19788 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Cardington , (32° 53' S , 148° 54' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.21407 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Bathurst , (33° 25' S , 149° 35' E), 19 May 1895

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.21408 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, New South Wales, Buckinbah , (33° 23' S , 149° 10' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.23621 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Port Lincoln , (34° 44' S , 135° 52' E),

(c) assumed Australian Museum.
O.23622 - Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, South Australia, Port Lincoln , (34° 44' S , 135° 52' E),