Also known as the Yellow-rumped Thornbill.
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 as scrubland.
The Yellow-tailed Thornbill is the largest species of thornbill, 9.5–12cm long and weighing 9g. It is insectivorous; major prey items include ants, beetles and bugs. Other items eaten include spiders, flies and seeds. The species usually forages in small groups of between 3-12 individuals, and may join mixed species-flocks with other small insectivorous passerines such as the Speckled Warbler, Weebill and other species of thornbill.
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.
The Yellow-tailed Thornbill has a distinctive song described as "twittering, musical, sweet, high pitched": http://birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/acanthiza-chrysorrhoa.mp3. The species is also reported to be an accomplished mimic of other birds, in particular mimicking the alarm calls of the Noisy Miner.
[All text: Ref [(126)]
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