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Small bird with thin pointed bill, uncommon in mulga woodland of arid inland temperate Australia.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Robust Thornbill, Thick-Billed Tit, Large-Billed Thornbill, Thick-Billed Thornbill
At a glance
FamilyThornbills and Allies
SizeTiny
RarityUncommon
HabitatOpen woodland, scrub, forest edge, gardens, and mixed canopy with active insect life.
Best timeMost reliable in Western Australia from July.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
930visible hotspots
3147visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Brownish gray above, cream-colored below, with dark eye, dark streaking on forecrown, pale lores, pale-tipped dark tail, and chestnut rump, often visible in flight. Distinguished from juvenile Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (which also has dark eyes) by noting the dark streaks on Slaty-backed’s forehead.
Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or singly, foraging low in branches rather than on the ground. Typical calls are thin chatter and a clear, reeling trill.
Gallery