BIRD SPECIES

Brown Thornbill

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Acanthiza pusilla

The Brown Thornbill is a relatively small bird with thin pointed bill. It is one of the medium-sized and more common of the thornbills.

It measures about 3.5 - 3.9 inches in length and typically weighs about 7 grams.

They are warm brown to olive-brown above, with flanks of olive-buff to yellowish white. It has buff scallops on the forehead and large dark red eyes.

There are blackish streaks on a gray throat and breast, a tawny rump and tail base, and a black subterminal band with paler tips on the tail.

They are skilled mimics and also respond to humans imitating their calls.

CALL: A "rich, musical warble". It vary from a mellow baritone "pee-orr", high whistles with rapid cascading trills, to many squeaks and churrs.

Adults are able to mimic the alarm calls of other birds such as the New Holland Honeyeater that warn of a raptor approaching, which deters other predators such as Pied Currawongs from attacking their nests.

Feeds mainly on insects, but may sometimes eat seeds, nectar or fruit.

Found in dense shrubby habitats including wet and dry forests, woodlands, shrublands, heathlands and rainforests, as well as along watercourses, mainly in the temperate and sub-tropical zones.

Can be found in the eastern and southeastern parts of Australia, including Tasmania.

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. It is usually low down, in low, prickly bushes, grass clumps, or ferns.

She lays 2 - 4 whitish eggs with red-brown freckles towards the larger rounded end. The female incubates the eggs for 19 days. Both parents feed the young.

SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org
https://birdlife.org.au