Grey-headed flying-fox
Pteropus poliocephalusIf you see a screeching black cloud silhouetted against the sunset, perhaps you're lucky enough to be witnessing a colony of flying-foxes departing on their evening out.
During the day, flying-foxes gather in camps, hanging from trees or other structures. One camp can contain tens of thousands of bats! Come dusk, they move off to search for dinner, using good eyesight, smell and the sound of other bats feeding to help them find flowers and fruit. Long after the screeching dies down, you might hear the beating wings of bats flying overhead.
The grey-headed flying-fox is one of Queensland's rarer fruitbats. With dark-grey body fur, a rusty brown collar, and a grey head, this little creature is surprisingly cute up close. It's also the only flying fox with hairy legs right down to its toes!
Found throughout New South Wales, Victoria and along the southern Queensland coast to Rockhampton, grey-headed flying-foxes prefer to roost in trees and mangroves near water. They will often share their camp with bat species like the black flying-fox and little red flying-fox.
Last updated: 25 August 2006
