grey-brown plumage; bare facial patch; cask on bill (Australia; 2006-06-20)


Helmeted Friarbird
Philemon buceroides

Native Range: Australia

Notes: friarbirds are large (nearly jay-sized) honeyeaters with baldish vulture-like heads accented by bare facial patches and in some species a cask on the upper mandible; the Helmeted Friarbird counts among the latter because it has a knob on the upper surface of its decurved bill; found in forested coastal regions of northeastern Australia; no sexual dimorphism.


silhouette shows cask on bill; long squared-off tail (Australia; 2006-06-20)

note the bare facial patch and red iris (Australia; 2006-06-20)