apostlebird

 

noun

  • a gregarious Australian bird of the mud-nester family, with grey, brown, and black plumage and a robust black bill.
    • Struthidea cinerea, family Corcoracidae (or Grallinidae)
  • Australian any of a number of other gregarious birds, especially babblers.

Origin:

early 20th century: named from the supposed habit of these birds of going about in flocks of twelve