Brown thornbill

Appearance

It is warm brown to olive-brown above, with flanks of olive-buff to yellowish white. Buff scallops on forehead and large dark red eyes. There are blackish streaks on a grey throat/breast, a tawny rump/tail base and a black subterminal band with paler tips.

The brown thornbill ranges in size from 9 to 10 centimetres, making it relatively small. It typically weighs 7 grams.

Naming

The brown thornbill is a member of the order "Passeriformes", the family "Acanthizidae", and the genus "Acanthiza". It also has five subspecies: "Acanthiza pusilla pusilla", "Acanthiza pusilla diemenensis", "Acanthiza pusilla zietzi", "Acanthiza pusilla archibaldi", and "Acanthiza pusilla dawsonensis". The species was first described by Shaw in 1790. The subspecies "Acanthiza pusilla pusilla" was described by Shaw in 1790 and the subspecies "Acanthiza pusilla diemenensis" was first described by Gould in 1838. "Acanthiza pusilla zietzi" was described by North in 1904, "Acanthiza pusilla dawsonensis" was described by A.G. Campbell in 1922, and "Acanthiza pusilla archibaldi" was described by Mathews in 1910.

Distribution

The brown thornbill can be found in the eastern and southeastern parts of Australia, including Tasmania. It is usually found within 300 kilometres of the coast. It shares a substantial part of its range in the Great Dividing Range and the Mt Lofty Ranges with the inland thornbill. It is also common in the Blue Mountains. The subspecies "Acanthiza pusilla pusilla" and the subspecies "Acanthiza pusilla diemenensis" have been observed near the Australian Capital Territory and on Tasmania, respectively.

The brown thornbill lives at elevations of up to 1,200 metres. It is found in dry forests, rainforests, shrublands, and near rivers.

Behavior

Brown thornbills are skilled mimics and also respond to humans imitating their calls. The calls have been described as "rich, musical warble".

Habitat

The brown thornbill can be found in the eastern and southeastern parts of Australia, including Tasmania. It is usually found within 300 kilometres of the coast. It shares a substantial part of its range in the Great Dividing Range and the Mt Lofty Ranges with the inland thornbill. It is also common in the Blue Mountains. The subspecies "Acanthiza pusilla pusilla" and the subspecies "Acanthiza pusilla diemenensis" have been observed near the Australian Capital Territory and on Tasmania, respectively.

The brown thornbill lives at elevations of up to 1,200 metres. It is found in dry forests, rainforests, shrublands, and near rivers.

Reproduction

Brown thornbill couples tend to last for a long time. Their nests are built out of grasses, bark, and feathers or plant down. A clutch consists of two to four eggs, with three eggs being the most common. They incubate for 19 days and have a nesting period of 16 days. Their breeding season ranges from July to January.

Food

The brown thornbill is mainly an insectivore. However, it may sometimes eat seeds, fruit, or nectar. They mostly feed relatively close to the ground, in trees and in the understorey. It often feeds in groups with other thornbills, except during the breeding season.