Yellow chat

Epthianura crocea

(Photo from Australian Photoholics)

Common name:
yellow chat (en); eptianuro-amarelo (pt); epthianure à collier (fr); eptianuro amarillo (es); safrantrugschmätzer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Epthianuridae

Range:
This species is found in northern and central Australia, from northern-eastern Western Australia, through the Northern Territory and into Queensland, north-eastern South Australia and north-western New South Wales.

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

Habitat:
The yellow chat is mostly found in tall grasslands, scrublands and saltmarshes, also using both fresh and saltwater wetlands and reservoirs.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other invertebrates, foraging within low vegetation or on the ground at the base of the scrubs.

Breeding:
Yellow chats breed in October-March. The nest is a small cup made of grass, twigs or plant stems, placed low on a scrub. The female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated for about 14 days. The chicks fledge 14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally fairly common to rare. The trend direction for this population is difficult to determine given that there are both positive and negative processes suspected to be affecting it, but it it not considered threatened at present.

Crimson chat

Epthianura tricolor

(Photo from Animal Picture Archive)

Common name:

crimson chat (en); eptianuro-escarlate (pt); epthianure tricolore (fr); eptianuro tricolor (es); scharlachtrugschmätzer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Epthianuridae

Range:

This species is endemic to Australia, being found throughout the inland, western, and southern coasts of Australia, and occasionally in south-eastern and eastern Australia.

Size: 
The crimson chat is 11-13 cm long and weigh 11 g.

Habitat:These birds are found in semi-arid and arid regions mainly dominated by open scrublands, dunes, plains or grasslands. They are sometimes also found in farmland.

Diet:Crimson chats are omnivorous, eating insects and other invertebrates, as well as seeds and nectar.

Breeding:These birds breed in July-December. They build a small, round, cup-shaped nest using grass, twigs or plant stems in low scrubs close to the ground. There the female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 10-14 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and fledge 10-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be sometimes numerous. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.