Up close with fantastic Noisy Friarbirds – Capertee Valley

These Noisy Friarbirds (Philemon corniculatus ssp monachus) were filmed across two trips to the Capertee Valley, NSW. Most of the footage was collected in mid September 2019 and consists of a (likely) pair who were drawn to either an artificial pond (but often lingering on low branches nearby) or a reed-edged dam. They were two of many honeyeaters visiting water sources on that warm sunny day. Others heard in this video include the similarly large and vocal Red Wattlebirds and smaller Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and White-plumed Honeyeaters. Last spring we set up the camera in a cottage near the pond and several flowering Ironbarks. Those nectar-feeding scenes from early October 2018 were captured from the second storey. The cottage is located on a 140 acre conservation property and nestles amongst woodland, open forest, revegetated farmland and paddocks with native grasses. The second photo shows part of the area where Noisy Friarbirds can be found (with the house zone just out of shot to the left). This photo was taken at the end of March 2019 when Noisy Friarbirds were more numerous. The photo soundscape was also collected at this time. Noisy Friarbirds are partial migrants; those from the southern part of the species’ range (i.e. south-eastern Australia) move north in autumn and south in late winter. Indeed, we witnessed the northern movement of well over a hundred Noisy Friarbirds (in groups of around a dozen or more) when visiting the valley in early March 2019. Their return is usually more inconspicuous.

Like many honeyeaters, Noisy Friarbirds are flexible in their feeding. They are attracted to areas with eucalypt blossoms (e.g. flushes of flowering in woodland, open forest and parks), but also thrive when their habitat is rich in insects. They can be particularly gregarious and aggressive when in a group and may exclude smaller honeyeaters from popular trees. Often they forage in the canopy for nectar, manna, lerps and various invertebrates, sometimes chasing an insect to the ground. Perhaps unsurprisingly, their behaviour is more subdued when alone or in a pair. At the filming site in September 2019, the two Noisy Friarbirds had a taste of their own medicine – this time Red Wattlebirds were numerous and dominating.

Noisy Friarbirds have long been one of our favourite birds. That face! That voice! Certainly a charismatic, unmistakable bird, even next to other friarbird species. Their name comes from the religious practice of shaving either part or entire hair from one’s head (as seen in monks or friars). Noisy Friarbirds have the barest heads and are sometimes called Leatherheads (or Knobby-nose Leatherhead). With their amazing gorgets (feathers on throat and upper breast), we think they look like dandy (hooded) highwaymen! For more information on these fantastic creatures go to http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Philemon-corniculatus