Noisy Friar-bird

Often seen in flocks as they move throughout their range mainly following the flowering of eucalypus trees but today it was just a solitary bird that gave some raucous calls to let me know what tree it was visiting. The Noisy Friar-bird Philemon corniculatus is one of six Friar birds found in Australia and part of the honeyeater family, all are distinguished by the bare black or dark grey skin covering their heads giving them a vulture looking appearance and is responsible for the "Friar" in their common names.

 

The loud raucous calls that are heard whenever they are around are responsible for the 'Noisy" part of the name and the other distinguishing features of this bird are the prominent knob on the forehead and the throat hackles.