Oreoicidae is a newly recognized family of small insectivorous songbirds from New Guinea and Australia, commonly known as the Australo-Papuan bellbirds.

[3][2] The crested bellbird occupies drier habitats in Australia including dry woodlands and scrublands.

[4] All members of Oreoicidae have melodious piping songs consisting of rhythmically repeating ringing notes of different lengths, typically mostly or all at the same pitch.

[5] The ornithologist John Gould (and the naturalist John Gilbert) described the song of the crested bellbird thusly:[8] I regret much that it is not in my power to convey an idea of the sounds uttered by this bird, for they are singular in the extreme; besides which, it is a perfect ventriloquist, its peculiar, mournful piping whistle appearing to be at a considerable distance, while the bird is perched on a large branch of a neighbouring tree.

At first its note commences in so low a tone that it sounds as if at a considerable distance, and then gradually increases in volume until it appears over the head of the wondering hearer, the bird that utters it being all the while on the dead part of a tree, perhaps not more than a few yards distant; its motionless attitude rendering its discovery very difficult.