Crested bellbird

The crested bellbird is a medium-sized passerine bird in the family Oreoicidae. It is native to drier parts of Australia where its typical habitats are acacia scrublands, eucalypt woodlands, spinifex and saltbush plains, and dunes. The male is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has a grey head, a black crest and breast, and a grey or olive brown body. The female and juvenile are similar but the colours are more muted and the black breast is lacking. The distinctive call is a high pitched bell-like sound, audible at some distance. Sometimes a pair of birds duet.

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Distribution

Region

Australian interior

Typical Environment

Occurs widely through the arid and semi-arid zones of inland Australia, avoiding the wetter coastal fringes. It favors acacia (mulga) and eucalypt woodlands, chenopod (saltbush and bluebush) shrublands, spinifex grasslands, and dune systems. Birds utilize open understories with scattered shrubs for foraging and low nesting sites. Local abundance can shift with rainfall cycles, and it is absent from Tasmania and most dense coastal forests.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1000 m

Climate Zone

Arid

Characteristics

Size19–22 cm

Wing Span28–30 cm

Male Weight0.04 kg

Female Weight0.037 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The crested bellbird is famed for its clear, bell-like call that carries over long distances and often sounds ventriloquial, making the bird hard to locate. Pairs sometimes duet, with the female giving softer notes that interleave the male’s ringing phrases. It inhabits arid and semi-arid Australia and is adept at living in sparse, shrubby landscapes. Reports note unusual nest defenses, including placing hairy caterpillars around the nest rim, possibly deterring predators.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats between shrubs

Social Behavior

Usually found singly or in pairs, maintaining territories year-round in suitable habitat. Nests are shallow cups placed low in shrubs or small trees, often in acacias. Both sexes attend the young, and the species shows strong site fidelity where habitat remains stable.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A clear, bell-like series of ringing notes that carry remarkably far and can seem to come from multiple directions. Males often deliver repeated phrases from concealed perches, and pairs may duet with softer, interwoven notes.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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