Hall's Babbler

1. Thick, bold white eyebrow stripe over a dark mask

2. Crisp white bib ending abruptly at the upper chest

3. White corners on the fanned tail, especially visible in flight

Hall’s Babblers are highly social, living in groups of up to 15 birds. They are cooperative breeders, with several group members helping to raise the young. Breeding usually occurs from August to November, but can extend into summer when conditions are suitable. The nest is a dome of twigs with a side entrance, built in the outer branches or forks of mulga trees. Females lay 2–4 eggs, and one member of the breeding pair (usually the female) incubates the eggs, while helpers assist with feeding and nest defense. Their diet is mainly insects and other small invertebrates, found by probing bark, leaf litter, and fallen timber.Y

Hall’s Babblers are found almost exclusively in tall mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and shrublands of inland Queensland, extending south into parts of north-western New South Wales. Look for them in stony gullies, rocky slopes, and dense acacia groves, where they forage on the ground in groups, often turning over bark and stones. Good places to search include Idalia National Park, Bowra Station near Cunnamulla, and the opal mining town of Yowah.