Apostlebird
使徒鸟，又称“灰跳鸟”或“快乐家族”，是一种行动敏捷的鸟类，体色为灰色或黑色，体长约33厘米（13英寸）。这种鸟类原产于澳大利亚，栖息在林地中，主要以地面附近的昆虫和种子为食。它们通常以约12只为一群活动；因此得名“使徒鸟”——这个名字来源于《圣经》中的十二位使徒。
Apostlebird
29-33 cm. Sociable dark, ashy grey bird with short, robust black bill, brown flight-feathers and full black tail. Usually in groups of 6-10, sometimes 20+. Garrulous, restless, aggressive; forages on ground, walking slowly, running, occasionally hopping; tail flicked upwards, slowly subsiding. When disturbed, flies direct and low to cover, wingbeats broken by glides, wingtips upswept, showing coppery tone on flight-feathers; leaps from branch to branch with wings/tail spread, calling. Dust-bathes on roadsides; rests, preens in groups; associates with White-winged Chough. Tame around camping grounds, farmsteads; often feeds with poultry.
- Other name
- Grey Jumper; Happy Family; Lousy Jack; Twelve Apostles.
- Voice
- scratchy, like tearing sandpaper; loud, discordant 'ch-kew, ch-kew'; on being disturbed, rough nasal 'git-out!', repeated.
- Habitat
- near water in drier open forests, woodlands, scrubs; timber on watercourses; black box/river red gum forests; woodlands of cypress pine; roadside timber, timbered paddocks, golf courses, orchards.
- Breeding
- Aug.-March.
- Nest
- large mud bowl, reinforced with grass; lined with fine grass; plastered to horizontal branch 3-20 m high. Members of group co-operate in nest construction, incubation, feeding young.
- Eggs
- 2-5 (more when more than one female lays); white, blue-white; spotted, blotched, occasionally streaked blackish brown, dark grey; some lack markings.
- Range & Status
- sub-inland and inland e. Aust.; isolated population in NT, in area of Elliott-Katherine, w. toward Top Springs, e. to upper Roper R.-Borroloola. In Q, widespread s. from lower C. York Pen. (Staaten R.-Laura), e. and s. to Atherton Tableland-Townsville-Rockhampton-Toowoomba, occasional to near Brisbane. In NSW, e. to Glen Innes-Tamworth-Sydney region-Cowra-Albury; casual ACT. Extends far w. in inland Q-NSW. In Vic., now confined to near Murray R. in two regions, Wodonga-Nathalia, and from Swan Hill to Hattah-Kulkyne NP-SA border. In SA, s. to c. Naracoorte, w. through Murray mallee to Mt Lofty Ras.-Adelaide region, n. to c. Barrier Highway. Fairly common, but patchy and local. Sedentary; locally nomadic.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Struthidea cinerea dalyi 2. Struthidea cinerea cinerea
