Yellow-rumped thornbill
Yellow-rumped thornbill | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Acanthizidae |
Genus: | Acanthiza |
Species: | A. chrysorrhoa
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Binomial name | |
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (
Gaimard , 1832) | |
Subspecies[2] | |
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Distribution of the yellow-rumped thornbill |
The yellow-rumped thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) is a species of
Taxonomy
The yellow-rumped thornbill was described as Saxicola chrysorrhoa by the
A 2017 genetic study using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA found the yellow-rumped thornbill was an early offshoot within the thornbill genus, its ancestor diverging from that of all other thornbills just over 10 million years ago.[5]
Description
The yellow-rumped thornbill is the largest species of thornbill, 9.5–12 cm (3.7–4.7 in) long and weighing 9 g (0.32 oz).[6] It has a short tail and a long slender bill. The species has a distinctive yellow rump, a black forehead with white spots, grey head and neck, a white line above the eye and white throat. The belly is white with light buff below the wings. The wings are grey and the tail is black. The plumage varies somewhat, depending on subspecies.
Voice
The yellow-rumped thornbill has a distinctive song described as "twittering, musical, sweet, high-pitched".[6] The species is also reported to be an accomplished mimic of other birds, in particular mimicking the alarm calls of the noisy miner.
Distribution and habitat
The species has a wide distribution across western, southern and eastern Australia as well as Tasmania; it is absent from the north coast of Western Australia, parts of central Australia, northern Queensland and central and northern Northern Territory. The species inhabits a wide range of habitats, including open forest and woodland, grasslands, savannah and scrubland.
Feeding
The yellow-rumped thornbill is insectivorous; major prey items include ants, beetles, bugs and
Breeding
Breeding takes place from July to December, with one, two or even more broods a year. Nesting usually occurs as a pair, but sometimes one to three helpers will assist the breeding pair. The nest is a messy dome-shaped structure made of dried grass and other vegetation hidden low down among dense foliage or shrubs, or sometimes in vines or mistletoe. Atop the dome is a cup-shaped depression which serves as a false nest, while the real nest is inside with a concealed entrance.
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
- ^ Quoy, J.R.C. & Gaimard, J.P. in Dumont-d'Urville, J. (1830). Voyage de découvertes de l'Astrolabe exécuté par ordre du Roi, pendant les anneés 1826-1827-1828-1829, sous le commandement de M.J. Dumont-d'Urville. Zoologie. Paris: J. Tastu Vol. 1 i p197
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). "Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names". Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- PMID 28017855.
- ^ ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2
- ^ ISBN 0-646-42798-9.
- ISBN 073222436-5