Striated Thornbill

Overview

The striated thornbill is a small passerine bird in the family Acanthizidae, endemic to Australia. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Measures 9–10 cm in length and weighs approximately 7 g.
• Features a russet- or orange-brown crown with cream streaks and dull yellow-olive upperparts.
• Flanks are olive-grey, while the cream underparts are heavily streaked with black.
• Subspecies vary in size and colour, with A. l. whitei on Kangaroo Island being darker and more greyish.

Habitat

This species resides in subtropical or tropical dry forests across Australia. Its distribution ranges from southeast Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to southeastern South Australia and Kangaroo Island.

Diet

Predominantly insectivorous, it forages in the canopy of eucalypt trees, gleaning leaves for prey and often hanging upside-down. It also feeds on extra-floral nectaries on the leaves of sunshine wattle, assisting in the plant's pollination.

Did you know?

Outside the breeding season, from late summer to winter, these birds form large flocks of 7–20 individuals before later breaking up into smaller groups of 2–4 consisting of a breeding pair and helper birds.