White-winged Choughs: Mud Nesters and Masters of Teamwork

During a recent Nocturnal Neighbours spotlight walk, our group spotted something special—an impressively built mud nest perched high in a eucalypt. While we didn’t catch sight of its feathered builders, the nest is a tell-tale sign of the white-winged chough, a highly social and fascinating bird found across south-eastern Australia.

White-winged choughs are large, black birds often seen foraging on the ground in noisy family groups. Their white wing patches are only visible in flight, but their behaviour is what truly sets them apart. Choughs are known for their incredible cooperation and communal way of life—particularly when it comes to raising young.

One of their most remarkable traits is their nest construction. These birds build deep, bowl-shaped nests out of mud, sometimes reinforced with dung and lined or supported with grasses. Nests are usually placed on horizontal branches, often 10–15 metres above ground. In dry conditions, the building process can take weeks, as wet mud is vital and not always readily available. The result is a solid, durable structure—so reliable that it may be reused in following years.

But perhaps the most extraordinary thing about white-winged choughs is their approach to family. Unlike many birds where only the breeding pair is involved in raising chicks, choughs operate as a team. Older siblings and other group members help with all aspects of chick rearing: incubating eggs, feeding the young, guarding the nest, and defending against predators.

This teamwork isn’t optional—it’s essential. A pair of choughs on their own cannot successfully raise a chick. Research shows that a group of at least four birds is needed to raise even one fledgling. Larger groups, sometimes with up to 20 individuals, have greater success and may raise several young at once.

Their breeding season runs from August through December. Eggs are laid in the mud nest, and the young remain dependent on the group for many months—up to eight—long after fledging. Choughs are even known to “recruit” young birds from neighbouring families to boost their own group’s size and survival odds.

So, the next time you’re out walking and notice a chunky mud nest high in the branches, take a moment to appreciate the effort behind it. It’s not just a nest—it’s a symbol of cooperation, resilience, and the strength of family in the natural world.