A number of cuckoo species are brood parasites of this species.
Not listed
Indigenous: Singing Flyeater, Mangrove Flyeater, Queensland Canary, Buff-Breasted Warbler, Buff-Breasted Flyeater, Mangrove Warbler
At a glance
FamilyThornbills and Allies
SizeTiny
RarityCommon
HabitatInhabits mangroves and surrounding habitats, unlikely to be far from mangroves.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from July to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by James Lambert
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
42723approx records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Usually detected by song, a tinkling melodious string of notes moving up and down in pitch (like a musician practicing scales). Inhabits mangroves and surrounding habitats, unlikely to be far from mangroves.
Behavior
Upperparts gray, underparts whitish, with striking white tail spots (best seen in flight), pale eyebrow, and red eye.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Western Australia
Northern Territory
New South Wales
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Speckled WarblerPyrrholaemus sagittatusMale has black stripe on side of crown, female a rufous stripe. Inhabits dry forest and woodlands.→Yellow ThornbillAcanthiza nanaUpperparts greenish brown, underparts yellow, with heavily streaked cheek patch, dark brown eye, and unpatterned forehead (unlike similar species).→White-throated GerygoneGerygone olivaceaJuvenile lacks white throat and can be difficult to distinguish from Fairy Gerygone, which lacks white tail spots. Call a sweet, descending trill. Inhabits open forest and woodland.→