Australo-Papuan babbler
Rotscheitelsäbler ( Pomatostomus ruficeps )
The Pomatostomidae are a family of songbirds, whose distribution is restricted to New Guinea and Australia, and consists of only five species in two genera. You were asked earlier to the babblers ( Timaliidae ) and some are very similar morphologically from those in fact. However, according to genetic findings they do not belong even to the Passerida, but to the basal Australian- oceanic groups of songbirds. None of the species contained is threatened.
Description
The Pomatostomidae are 17-27 cm with just about starlings - to hähergroß and have an elongated body with short, broad and rounded wings and a stepped tail with rounded tip. The beak is rather long, pointed, and bent down, her legs and feet are strong. The plumage colors are more muted and consist mainly of brown, reddish brown or gray tones. Most species show a striking, bright eyes glancing over. Only the Beutelsäbler is relatively plain reddish brown.
Way of life
The Pomatostomidae usually inhabit semi-open landscapes such as tree savannahs, scrublands and floodplains. One type occurs in forests and secondary vegetation. They feed mainly on invertebrates, but occasionally on seeds, fruits and small vertebrates. The food is mostly searched on the ground, but sometimes in low bushes and trees.
About the propagation is partly little known, but are of two types - the Grauscheitelsäbler and Brauensäbler - relatively well studied. The birds seem to result in a monogamous marriage duration, but brood Collective, one pair is supported by several helpers. A group occupied a shared territory, where there are breeding and sleeping nests. The birds are a group of stay partly together in a nest. This is a rather bulky, spherical construction with a tunnel-like entrance. When Beutelsäbler the nest can reach 1-2 m in diameter, while Grauscheitelsäbler it is 30-50 cm is very much smaller.
Genera and species
- Genus Garritornis Beutelsäbler ( Garritornis isidorei ) - Lowlands of New Guinea and some surrounding islands
- Grauscheitelsäbler ( Pomatostomus temporalis ) - Southern New Guinea and large parts of Australia
- Rußbauchsäbler ( Pomatostomus halli ) - eastern center of Australia
- Brauensäbler ( Pomatostomus superciliosus ) - south of Australia
- Rotscheitelsäbler ( Pomatostomus ruficeps ) - Southeastern Australia