Acanthiza iredalei
The Slender-billed Thornbill (Acanthiza iredalei) is a diminutive and often cryptic passerine, typically measuring 9-10.5 cm in length and weighing a mere 6-9 grams. Its plumage is subtly toned, featuring pale olive-brown to brownish-grey upperparts with a faint greenish wash, contrasting with off-white to pale yellow underparts that may exhibit delicate streaking on the throat and breast. Key identification marks include a dark loral stripe, a pale supercilium, and most notably, its namesake...
Found primarily in arid and semi-arid zones, inhabiting low chenopod shrublands, especially saltbush (Atriplex) and samphire (Tecticornia) communities, as well as saltmarshes and samphire flats, typically at low elevations.
Feeds predominantly on small insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, primarily gleaned from the foliage and stems of low-lying shrubs.
Slender-billed Thornbills are active diurnal foragers, usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season. They exhibit a characteristic foraging strategy, gleaning small insects, spiders, and other invertebrates from the f...
The Slender-billed Thornbill is endemic to mainland Australia, exhibiting a fragmented and patchy distribution across arid and semi-arid regions. It is a resident species, with no significant migratory movements observed. Its range spans parts of Western Australia (Gascoyne, Murchison, Goldfields...
Least Concern
- The 'slender bill' is a key adaptation, allowing it to probe effectively for invertebrates within the intricate foliage of saltbush and samphire. - It is often considered an indicator species for the health of Australia's unique chenopod shrubland ecosystems. - Its cryptic, dull plumage provide...