White-browed babbler

The white-browed babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus) is a small, gregarious species of bird in the family Pomatostomidae.

[4] The wings are short and rounded in shape, adjacent to a plump, full body which is similar but slightly smaller than the chestnut-crowned or Hall's babbler.

Hall's babbler has a narrow and very dark brown crown-stripe with a much broader, vivid white supercilium.

[8] Individuals will have vivid coloration on the face and will never have a white dot under the eye, which is sometimes present in the white-browed babbler.

[8] The habitat for the white-browed babbler varies across the southern regions of Australia, from dry sclerophyll woodlands, shrublands, heathland, semiarid grasslands and open forests.

[12] Their range extends through arid and semiarid areas all the way across the South Australian coastline to Western Australia, and by doing so, it crosses many different ecological vegetation classes (EVCs).

[2] No preference seems to be shown with the overall composition of habitat, only that when the understory provides good quality protection from the environment and predators, the species is more successful.

[2] Pairs spend almost the entire year in close proximity, preening each other regularly and working in unison to defend territory or feed together.

[12] Nests are dome-like in shape with a hooded entrance, usually made from small sticks from surrounding environment.

[18] The diet of the white-browed babbler varies depending on the area that they live in and the availability of food sources.

[19] The long-distance call consists of chattering ‘mee’ sounds repeated three or more times, followed by whistled ‘wee-aw’ which rises in pitch.

[11] Models that predict the effects of these species suggest that they could affect the numbers of native birds in the long term.

[11] Some studies have found nesting sites on roadsides, golf courses, orchards, agricultural areas and buildings.

[12] Many of these studies suggest that remnant vegetation is integral to the health of these ecosystems and that their removal can cause higher levels of competition in an area.

White-browed babbler