Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus Scientific name definitions

9–12 cm; 9–15 g. Tiny, attractively patterned passerine with short square-cut tail and short deep bill. Nominate race has cap, nape, loral stripe and ear-coverts black with distinct white streaks, broad superciliary stripe bright yellow near bill and white posteriorly; upperparts fawn-brown, rump pale brown; upperwing black, primaries narrowly edged white (forming very narrow white stripe on wing), tertials edged more prominently white, outer tertial partly edged rufous-brown, small yellow tips of primary coverts; uppertail black, feathers narrowly tipped white; bright yellow chin and throat, yellowish breast, creamy belly to vent, yellowish-olive band on flanks; iris dark brown to blackish; bill black, sometimes pale base of lower or both mandibles; legs dark slate to brown or pinky brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile is duller than adult, with less marked head pattern, less distinct yellow on throat. Races differ mainly in plumage pattern, especially of head and wing, and in colour tones: <em>ornatus</em> is very like nominate, but tips of primary coverts red (not yellow), crown streaking extending somewhat less on to forehead; <em>substriatus</em> closely resembles previous, but has much more white in wing (forming broad white panel on primaries); <em>melanocephalus</em> is distinctive, has cap, eyestripe and ear-coverts solid black (lacking white streaks), anterior supercilium deeper yellow to orangey, rump and uppertail-coverts richer buff, wing as previous (broad white wingpanel, red tips of primary coverts), edge of outermost tertial less extensively rufous-toned or, instead, pale yellow; <em>uropygialis</em> is very like previous, but rump and most of uppertail-coverts yellow to orange-yellow or yellow-buff, red on primary coverts darker, outer tertial usually all white-edged, black eyestripe narrower, anterior supercilium usually deeper orange; melvillensis is very like last, but rump and uppertail-coverts deeper orange-yellow.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Wide range of eucalypt (Eucalyptus) formations, varying from tall open forests with canopy higher than 30 m to sparse low woodlands with canopy below 2 m; accidental or rare in vegetation formations without eucalypts. From coastal and semi-arid inland areas to alpine areas above 2000 m.

Movement patterns not well known, and probably vary across range. Tasmanian population (nominate race) makes post-breeding migration to Australian mainland, extending N at least to SE Queensland, and populations breeding in mountain areas in SE Australia move to coastal or inland lowland areas for winter; movements by other populations may be less regular; some individuals or populations probably resident. Post-breeding dispersal often in large flocks (hundreds of individuals), sometimes mixed with P. punctatus; such flocks may search for outbreaks of psyllids.

Food predominantly invertebrates, especially lerps (the carbohydrate-rich cover of some psyllid insects); in some areas, also takes the plant exudate manna. One record of an individual capturing and consuming a skink (Scincidae). Arboreal ; feeds almost exclusively in foliage of eucalypts. Usually singly or in pairs in breeding season; in autumn and winter often forms flocks, sometimes of hundreds of individuals, and often joins mixed flocks.

Loud song of 2–7 notes, most typically “wit-e-chu” or “wit-wit”, with some regional variation; uttered frequently, especially in breeding season. Various other vocalizations, given far less frequently, include trilling call, and brief contact call when in flocks.

Recorded in all months, typically Aug–Dec in temperate S Australia; two broods per season possibly normal, but proportion of pairs rearing multiple broods unknown. Monogamous. Nest built by both sexes, a loose dome or cup-shaped structure made from bark, grass stems and/or “needle” foliage from pines and similar species, sometimes with some fur or feathers in lining, located in tree hollow or in tunnel constructed in ground , in latter case generally in eroded creek bank, cliff or similar nearly vertical surface ; tunnel generally horizontal, variably 15–100 cm in length, with opening 4–6 cm wide, and with larger nest-chamber at distal end. Clutch 3–5 eggs, white; incubation by both sexes, period 15–23 days; chicks fed by both parents , fledging period 21–25 days.

Not globally threatened. Generally common throughout range; can be hard to locate, and often detected more readily from call than by direct observation. Reported densities of 0·1–16 birds/10 ha across 16 widely spaced sites in Victoria. Present in many protected areas.