Grey-headed flying-foxes have the order, suborder, family, subfamily, genus, and species classification of Chiroptera Megachiroptera Pteropodidae Pteropodinae Pteropus poliocephalus (Welbergen, n.d.).  The Megachiroptera order translates to “large hand-wing”, indicating their ability to sustain long-term flight (WWF, n.d.).  The grey-headed flying-fox is one of four species, including the little red flying-fox, the grey-headed flying-fox, and the spectacled flying-fox, found in Australia (DSE, 2008).

When on a branch, they hang head-down from their feet, and move across the branch bipedally.  Their eyes are extremely well-adapted for both daylight (V. Jones, 2008, personal communication) and for low-light conditions such as those experienced at twilight and have very good depth perception necessary for flying (Nelson, 1965). In addition, they are able to distinguish colors at night (DSE, 2008).  The grey-headed flying-fox is fully covered in fur, except for its wings, with orange fur on its chest, shoulders, and neck and grey fur on its head.  The typical lifespan of grey-headed flying-foxes does not usually exceed fifteen years (Welbergen, n.d.).

Despite daytime being flying-foxes typical rest time, flying-fox camps can be full of activity.  Their typical daytime behaviors include grooming, scratching, wing fanning, and sleeping (Nelson, 1965), and occasional changing of location within the roost (Banack and Grant, 2002). Despite the resting behavior during the day, flying-fox camps are usually relatively loud, as individuals make vocalizations to communicate with one another (Ratcliffe, 1932).

The video to the left was taken in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney where thousands of flying-foxes roost. Watch for wing fanning and listen for their vocalizations.