Striated Thornbill
Acanthiza lineata
Small bird with thin pointed bill. Upperparts greenish brown, underparts off-white, with distinct dark streaking on throat and breast and reddish-brown cap. Similar Brown Thornbill lacks greenish tone in upperparts and has less defined streaking below. Inhabits eucalypt forest and other woodlands in southeastern Australia, where it feeds mostly on insects.
Identification
The adult striated thornbill is 9–10 centimetres (3.5–3.9 in) long and weighs around 7 grams (0.25 oz). It has a russet- or orange-brown crown with cream streaks, dull yellow-olive upperparts, olive-grey flanks, and cream underparts heavily streaked with black.<p>The brown thornbill (A. pusilla) is similar but lacks the white-streaked orange-brown cap and lives in shrubs.
Taxonomy
John Gould described the striated thornbill in 1838, giving it the common name of striated acanthiza. Alternative common names include striped-crowned thornbill or tit-warbler, striated tit-warbler or tit, and green thornbill.<p>The striated thornbill still bears its original name.<p>A 2017 genetic study using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA found that the ancestor of the striated thornbill diverged from that of the yellow thornbill around 6 million years ago.<p>Four subspecies are recognised.
- Scientific name
- Acanthiza lineata
- Authority
- Gould, 1838
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Genus
- Acanthiza
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
European Greenfinch
Chloris chloris
Male greenish overall with a rather stout pale pinkish bill, yellow flashes on wing and sides of tail. Female is much drabber, but shares male pattern; especially note the big, dull pinkish bill and yellow wing flash. Inhabits varied wooded and forested habitats, including parks, gardens, and farmland with hedges and scattered trees. Forms flocks in autumn and winter, sometimes moving in more open country. Often visits garden feeders. Listen for chattering song, interspersed with buzzy “dzweeeeee” calls. A Eurasian native, now introduced to southeastern South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Bat-like Spinetail
Neafrapus boehmi
Extraordinary short-tailed swift with weak, fluttery, bat-like flight. Note the pale underparts and white rump patch. Seen on the wing over woodland, gallery forest, and moist savannah, especially miombo. Often in areas with baobabs, which are favored nesting sites. Usually solo or in pairs. Range does not overlap with that of the similar Sabine’s Spinetail. All other swifts have a longer tail.
Gabon Coucal
Centropus anselli
A large, reddish-bellied forest coucal of Central African forests, occasionally found in more open and disturbed habitats. Most often detected by its call, which is a long or short series of hollow loud hoots, the last few usually lower, sometimes given as a duet. Overlaps locally with Black-throated Coucal, which has a black throat and a cream-colored belly.
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