Grey-headed fox

Grey headed flying fox
This table has 3 columns about scientific name, Queensland conservation status and local species status.
Scientific name Pteropus poliocephalus
Commonwealth conservation status Vulnerable
Local species status Priority species for conservation

What does it look like?

The grey-headed flying-fox is Australia’s largest megabat. It has a grey head and reddish-yellow neck, chest and shoulders. The rest of the body is covered with long, dark brown fur. The wing membranes are black and the wingspan can be up to one metre. The species is distinguished from other flying-foxes by its hairy legs, with the fur extending right down to the ankle.

Where does it live?

Grey-headed flying-foxes are found along the east coast of Australia from Rockhampton to Adelaide. However, they only use a small proportion of this range at any one time. They are a migratory species, moving in response to seasonal changes in food availability. This includes frequent movement among roost sites in a regional area, as well as annual long-range migrations up and down the coast.

On the Gold Coast, roosting and foraging sites are distributed across the city, including urban areas. The species is present in larger numbers on the Gold Coast from June to August. They feed on winter-flowering native trees, such as swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta), Queensland blue gum (E. tereticornis)and broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia). Around September, they typically migrate to the southern coastal areas and ranges.

Ecology & habitat

Flying-foxes are nocturnal. They sleep in ‘roost trees’ during the day and fly out at dusk to search for food, before returning to their roosts near dawn. On the Gold Coast, grey-headed flying-foxes roost in the canopy foliage including species like river she-oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana), broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia), swamp she-oak (Casuarina glauca) and grey mangrove (Avicennia marina). Roost sites are often established in modified vegetation within urban and suburban areas.

Grey-headed flying-foxes often travel 20 kilometres per night while foraging but they can travel up to 50 kilometres in search of food. They feed mostly on the nectar and fruit of native trees. However, they will also eat the fruit of introduced orchard and street trees such as mango and native small-leaved fig. Grey-headed flying-foxes are important pollinators and seed-dispersers, playing a critical role in maintaining the health and regeneration of native forests.

During the mating season (March to April), grey-headed flying-foxes gather in large camps. Females give birth to a single offspring between October and November. They carry the pup with them, even during flight, for the first 4 to 5 weeks. Pups are then left in a 'crèche' at the camp while the mother forages. They are dependent on their mother for up to 4 months.

How is its survival threatened?

  • Habitat clearing and degradation for agricultural and urban development
  • Impacts of climate change, particularly heatwave events leading to mass-mortality
  • People illegally killing or injuring individuals to protect their orchards
  • Barbed wire entanglement killing or injuring individuals

How can we help?

  • Protect the species’ important roosting sites across the city
  • Protect natural winter foraging habitats
  • Protect and improve roosting habitat in low or no conflict locations
  • Increase community understanding and appreciation to reduce human-flying fox conflicts

Living near flying-foxes

Flying-foxes play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. While their presence in urban areas may raise concerns for some residents, understanding their behaviour and ecological importance can help foster coexistence. Learning to live alongside them contributes to the conservation of these protected species and the natural environment they help sustain.

Tips for living near flying-foxes

  • Bring your washing in before dusk
  • Park your car under shelter
  • Avoid disturbing roosts
  • Do not handle bats

Image credit: Steve Parish