Striated thornbill

Acanthiza lineata

Photo by Patrick Kavanagh (Flickr)

Common name:
striated thornbill (en); acantiza-estriado (pt); acanthize ridé (fr); acantiza estriada (es); Stricheldornschnabel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to south-eastern Australia, being found from south-eastern Queensland down to Victoria and westwards into south-eastern South Australia.

Size:
These birds are 9-11 cm long and weigh 7 g.

Habitat:
The striated thornbill is mainly found in Eucalyptus forests and woodlands, also using other forest habitats but always preferring areas with a well-developed understorey. They can also use scrublands, mangroves, pastures, arable land and gardens within urban areas.

Diet:
They feed on a wide range of small arthropods, including spiders, insect larvae, flies, beetles, and bugs including psyllids (lerps). They may be important in reducing psyllid infestations in areas where bell miners Manorina melanophrys, which 'farm' the psyllids, have been removed.

Breeding:
Striated thornbills breed in June-March. They can breed in single pairs or in small cooperative groups of related birds. Both males and females help build the nest which consists of an oval, domed structure with a hooded entrance near the top, made of bark mixed with lichens, mosses and spider webs. The nest is lined with feathers, fur or soft plant down and typically placed in the outer branches of trees, scrubs and vine-covered saplings, mainly of Eucalyptus. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for about 17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents along with other members of the family group and fledge about 20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be sometimes common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and degradation, but it is not considered threatened at present.

White-browed scrubwren

Sericornis frontalis

Photo by Neil Fifer (Bird Forum)

Common name:
white-browed scrubwren (en); acantiza-do-mato-de-sobrancelha (pt); séricorne à sourcils blancs (fr); sericornis de cejas blancas (es); weißbrauen-sericornis (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found from northern Queensland south to Victoria, through southern South Australia and into southern and south-western Western Australia.

Size:
These birds are 10,5-15 cm long and weigh 12-14 g.

Habitat:
The white-browed scrubwren is found in dry scrublands and in dense undergrowth of temperate and moist tropical forests, including Eucalyptus. They also use mangroves and urban areas.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects and other small arthropods, but also take snails, seeds and fruits.

Breeding:
These birds can breed all year round, but mainly in August-January. They can be either monogamous or polyandrous. The nest is a large ball of grasses and other plant material with a side entrance and an inner cup lined with feathers. It is normally located on or near to the ground, in thick vegetation, but may be in a tree fork a few metres high.The female lays 2-3 pale blue to pale purple eggs with brown spots, which are incubated for 17-21 days. The chicks fledge 15 days after hatching. Each female can lay up to 6 clutches and fledge up to 3 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status -LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat loss and degradation and predation by introduced mammals.

Tasmanian scrubwren

Sericornis humilis

Photo by J.J. Harrison (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Tasmanian scrubwren (en); acantiza-do-mato-castanha (pt); séricorne brun (fr); sedosito pardo (es); Tasmansericornis (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Tasmania, King Island and other offshore islands in the Tasmanian region.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and weigh about 18 g.

Habitat:
The Tasmanian scrubwren is mostly found in dense temperate forests and scrublands, and using marshes, bogs and urban areas.

Diet:
They usually forage in pairs, mainly taking insects but also some seeds. 

Breeding:
Tasmanian scrubwrens breed in August-December. The nest is a domed or spherical structure with a side entrance, made of bark, grass and moss, and lined with feathers and fur. The female lays 2-4 pale purple eggs with brown spots which are incubated for 17 days. The chicks fledge about 2 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as quite widespread and fairy common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to large-scale commercial forestry and perhaps industrial scale pesticide use.

Eastern Bristlebird

Dasyornis brachypterus

Photo by David Cook (Flickr)

Common name:
eastern bristlebird (en); acantiza-de-cerdas-oriental (pt); dasyorne brun (fr); picocerdas oriental (es); braunkopf-lackvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the eastern coast of Autralia, being found from south-eastern Queensland to eastern Victoria.

Size:
These birds are 18-21 cm long and weigh 33-51 g.

Habitat:
The eastern bristle bird is mostly found in dense scrublands, namely in areas with sedges and heaths, but also use grasslands, swamps, sclerophyll forests and rainforests. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They feed on seeds, small fruits and invertebrates, as well as fungi and occasionally nectar, food scraps and tadpoles.

Breeding:
Eastern bristlebirds breed in August-February. The nest is a small, globular structure with a side entrance, made of grass, bark, sedges or reeds, and sometimes leaves. It is placed near the base or low on a sedge, grass, fern or scrub, up to 1 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 white to light brown eggs with brown or grey spots, which she incubates alone for about 3 weeks. The chicks are fed and brooded by the female only and fledge about 16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has a relatively small and fragmented breeding range, and the global population is estimated at 2.550 individuals. The population has undergone a dramatic decline in the northern parts of the range, and although further south it  is considered stable at present, it is projected to decline in the future mainly due to habitat degradation caused by an inappropriate fire regime. If fires are too frequent they eliminate tussocks and enable the invasion by introduced woody weeds. However, when fires are too infrequent the vegetation becomes too dense for nesting. Further problems include habitat degradation by feral pigs and domestic livestock, overgrazing, invasion by exotic weeds and predation by inreoduced foxes and feral cats. Conservation actions underway include the construction of fences and fire-breaks, control of feral cat and pig populations, and the translocation of individuals to more favourable areas.

Grey gerygone

Gerygone igata

(Photo from iNaturalist)

Common name:
grey gerygone (en); gerígono-maori (pt); gérygone de Nouvelle Zélande (fr); gerigón maorí (es); Maorigerygone (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
This is endemic to New Zealand, being found throughout the country including several offshore islands.

Size:
These tiny birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 6-7 g.

Habitat:
The grey gerygone is mostly found in temperate forests, but also in scrublands, mangroves, arable land and urban areas.

Diet:
They feed on spiders, insects and their larvae.

Breeding:
Grey gerygones breed in August-January. The nest is built by the female, using material collected by the male, consisting of a pear-shaped structure with a side entrance made of grass, leaves, rootlets and moss, held together with spider webs. The nest is lined with feather and other soft material and attached to a twig up to 7 m above the ground. The female lays 3-6 pinkish-white eggs with reddish-brown speckles, which she incubates alone for about 19 day. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-19 days after hatching. Each pair usually raises 2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as generally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Rufous fieldwren

Calamanthus campestris

Photo by Sohnjoo Mountain (Adventures of the Mountain Man)

Common name:
rufous fieldwren (en); acantiza-ruiva (pt); séricorne roussâtre (fr); sedosito rufo (es); rötelfeldhuscher (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found in the western and southern parts of the country.

Size:
These birds are 12 cm long and weigh 12-15 g.

Habitat:
The rufous fieldwren is found in arid regions, mainly in dry scrublands and dry savannas.

Diet:
They feed mostly on insects, but also take snails, berries and seeds that are gleaned from the ground of from low scrubs.

Breeding:
Rufous fieldwrens breed in September-January. The nest is a domed structure made of plant fibres, placed on the ground or in a low scrub or grass tussock within 1 m of the ground. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated for 16-17 days. The chicks fledge about 17 days after hatching but only become fully independent 1 month later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be erratic and occasionally locally quite common. the population in West Australia has been estimated at 100.000 individuals. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat loss and degradation, fire, and introduced predators such as cats and foxes.

Speckled warbler

Chthonicola sagittatus

Photo by Ian Colley (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
speckled warbler (en); acantiza-malhada (pt); séricorne fléché (fr); sedosito moteado (es); grundhuscher (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
These birds are endemic to south-eastern Australia, being found from south-western Victoria to central Queensland, mostly on the slopes and tablelands of the Great Dividing Range.

Size:
The speckled warbler is 13 cm long and weighs around 13 g.

Habitat:
These birds are mostly found in temperate forests, namely in Eucalyptus, but also in dry scrublands, grasslands and rocky areas.

Diet:
The speckled warbler forages on the ground, eating both seeds and insects.

Breeding:
They can breed all year round, but with a peak in September-November. The nest is a domed structure with a side entrance, made of dry grass and strips of bark. It is located in a slight hollow on the ground or at the base of a low thick plant. There the female lays 3-4 glossy red-brown eggs which are incubated by both parents for 17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 19 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 400.000 individuals. This population is in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and degradation and the effects of introduced plants and predatory mammals.

Rock warbler

Origma solitaria

Photo by Sam Woods (Lost in Birding)

Common name:
rock warbler (en); acantiza-das-rochas (pt); origma des rochers (fr); acantiza minero (es); steinhuscher (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae


Range:
This species is endemic to New South Wales, in eastern Australia, being found in the Hawkesbury Sandstone area, both north and south of Sydney.


Size:
These birds are 14 cm long and weigh around 14-15 g.


Habitat:
The rock warbler is mostly found in rocky outcrops, mostly of sandstone and sometimes limestone, but also in nearby areas of scrubland and temperate forest.


Diet:
They are mostly insectivorous, hunting various insects in rock crevices, on the ground or sometimes in low branches of scrubs or small trees. They also eat seeds.


Breeding:
Rock warblers breed in August-January. They are monogamous and the nest is a suspended dome-shaped structure made from roots, moss, grass and bark bound together with spider webs. It is usually placed in a sandstone, or occasionally limestone or granite cave, in total or near-darkness. The female lays 3 eggs, which are incubated for 23 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 21 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a restricted breeding range, but is reported to be locally common. The population has suffered from urban developments on the edges of its range near Sydney, however, most of its habitat is now protected and the population is suspected to be stable.

Brown gerygone

Gerygone mouki

Photo by David Cook (Flickr)

Common name:

brown gerygone (en); gerígono-castanho (pt); gérygone brune (fr); gerigón pardo (es); grauwangengerygone (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Acanthizidae

Range:

The brown gerygone is endemic to the eastern coast of Australia, from Queensland down to southern New South Wales.

Size:

These birds are 9-11 cm long and weigh just 5-6 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found in dense coastal rainforests, but also in mangroves, moist scrublands and dry forests.

Diet:

Brown gerygones are insectivorous,taking various small insects.

Breeding:

These birds breed in September-February. The nest is an hanging dome made of bark fibre, roots, webs, moss and lichens, lined with feathers and plant down. It is place in a tree, 2-5 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 creamy eggs with brown specks, which are incubated for 12-14 days. The chicks fledge 14-21 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The brown gerygone has a relatively large breeding range and is reported to be locally fairly common in the northern parts of its range though often scarce towards the south. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Brown thornbill

Acanthiza pusilla

Photo by Glen Fergus (Wikipedia)

Common name:

brown thornbill (en); acantiza-castanho (pt); acanthize mignon (fr); acantiza parda (es); roststirn-dornschnabel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Acanthizidae

Range:

This species is endemic to Australia, being found in eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania.

Size:

Brown thornbills are 9-11,5 cm long and weigh 7 g.

Habitat:

This species is found in dense shrubby habitats including wet and dry forests, woodlands, scrublands, heathlands and rainforests, as well as along watercourses, mainly in the temperate and sub-tropical zones. They are also found in parks and gardens, especially close to large patches of remnant vegetation and along nature strips in towns and suburbs. The brown thornbill is present from sea level up to an altitude of 1200 m.

Diet:

They are mostly insectivorous, but sometimes feed on seeds, nectar and fruits.

Breeding:

Brown thornbills nest in July-January. The female builds a small oval, domed nest with a partially hooded entrance near the top out of grasses, bark and other materials, lining it with feathers, fur or soft plant down. The nest is usually low down, in low, prickly bushes, grass clumps, or ferns. There she lays 2-4 eggs which she incubates alone for 19 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 16 days after hatching, but stay with the parents until early autumn, before being driven out of the parental territory.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The brown thornbill has a large breeding range and his described as common and widespread. It is adversely affected by fires that reduce understorey, but may benefit from any clearing activity that increases shrubby vegetation cover. They are also sometimes caught by cats, but overall the species is not considered threatened at present.

Weebill

Smicrornis brevirostris

Photo by Robin Eckermann (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

weebill (en); gerígono-de-bico-curto (pt); gérygone à bec court (fr); gerigón piquicorto (es); stutzschnabel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Acanthizidae

Range:

The weebill is endemic to Australia, being found throughout mainland Australia with the exception of some of the most arid areas in the centre.

Size:

These tiny birds are 8-9 cm long and weigh just 6 g.

Habitat:

The weebill inhabits almost any wooded area, with the exception of the wettest forests. They favour open eucalypt forests spending of their time in the canopy.

Diet:

They forage in flocks, mainly feeding in the outer edges of the tops of trees. They take a variety of small insects and their larvae, which they glean from the leaves.

Breeding:

Weebills breed in May-July. The nest is a neatly woven dome, made from grasses and other fine vegetation. It has a narrow spout-like entrance towards the top and the interior of the nest is lined with feathers and soft vegetable matter. The female lays 2-3 cream-coloured eggs with brown speckles, which she incubates alone for 12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

Although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is reported to be common and widespread over its large breeding range.This population is in decline owing to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, but the species is not considered threatened at present.