Apostlebird

The apostlebirds are preaching in the mornings.

• Apostlebirds are birds native to inland eastern and southern woody habitats of Australia.
• ‘Apostlebirds’ are also known as ‘grey jumpers’, ‘lousy jacks’, ‘family birds’, ‘happy jacks’, and a group of them is sometimes called ‘twelve apostles’ or a ‘happy family’.
• Typically, apostlebirds have plumage that is mostly grey in colour, with touches of brown and black in various places.
• The scientific name of an apostlebird is Struthidea cinerea, and it is from the family Corcoracidae, also known as Struthideidae, the family of Australian mudnesters.
• Apostlebirds coexist helpfully in groups, actively caring for fellow birds, eggs and chicks, and all contributing to nest building.

• Female apostlebirds generally lay two to five very light blue to white coloured eggs, that have brown or grey coloured specks, and they are laid in a high, mud and grass nest.
• The name ‘apostlebird’ is derived from the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, as the birds usually live in groups that number ten to twelve birds.
• The diet of apostlebirds consists primarily of insects and vegetation, such as seeds and leaves.
• Apostlebirds grow to lengths of 29 to 33 centimetres (11.4 to 13 inches), and weigh approximately 128 grams (4.5 ounces).
• Apostlebirds are often seen foraging on the ground in their family groups, and in winter a number of groups may congregate together.

Bibliography:
Apostlebird, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostlebird

Apostlebird, n.d, Birds in Backyards, http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Struthidea-cinerea

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea), n.d, Oz Animals, http://www.ozanimals.com/Bird/Apostlebird/Struthidea/cinerea.html