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17

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill

(Acanthiza uropygialis)
Alternate name(s): "Chestnut-tailed Thornbill",
"Chestnut-rumped Tit", "Chestnut-rumped Tit-Warbler"

Size: 9-10 cm
Weight: 5-8 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Chestnut-rumped Thornbill at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill; note the little white face mask, making this individual resemble a Southern Whiteface (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW, May 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Pilliga NP, NSW, June 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Round Hill NP, Mt. Hope, NSW, September 2010]

Lateral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Flinders Ranges NP, March 2008]

Lateral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2008]

Partially obscured lateral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW, May 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, with a clear view of its rump
[Flinders Ranges NP, March 2008]

Near-dorsal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Flinders Ranges NP, March 2008]

Dorsal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Gnoocardup, WA, December 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Chestnut-rumped Thornbill; note the characteristic russet mantle and tail feathers
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Fledgling Chestnut-rumped Thornbill - note the short tail feathers; this bird was observed when being fed by its parents with small insects they called in the flowering shrub
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2017]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 18 days Fledging age: ca. 14 - 21 days

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Dome inside hollow Material: Bark, grass, fur, feathers Height above ground: 2 - ? m

Overview of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill nest hollow, entrance near the bottom (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Overview of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill nest hollow, entrance on the right, near the bottom (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Closer look at the entrance to a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill nest hollow (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill peeking out of its nest hollow (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Lateral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill entering its nest hollow (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Lateral view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill leaving its nest hollow (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill at its nest hollow (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Dorsal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill at its nest hollow (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill approaching a hollow trunk (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill carrying nest material (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, near Gwabegar, NSW, August 2021]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill collecting nesting material
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 16 x 12 mm Colour: White, with mid-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Like other insect hunters, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills usually try to move as little as possible while searching for prey. They will turn their entire body only when necessary.

Frontal view of a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, looking forward (left panel), to the right (central panel) and right back (right panel)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, now after turning around entirely
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill taking a bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Food, Diet

Like several other species of the Acanthiza family, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills hunt for small insects in low shrubs and bushes.

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill with its prey, a small spider
[Between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW, February 2019]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill with its prey, a small spider
[Between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW, February 2019]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill devouring its prey
[Between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW, February 2019]

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill with its next meal (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP, October 2008]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

crthbil_20211002.m4a (NW NSW) Contact calls(?) © MD
crthbil_me_20221026_2.mp3 (S SA) Warning calls(?) © ME
crthbil_20170920_4.m4a (NW NSW) Warning calls(?) © MD
crthbil_20210808_3.m4a (NW NSW) Alarm calls(?) © MD
crthbil_20210808.m4a (NW NSW) Various (pair near nest) © MD
crthbil_20210808_3.m4a (NW NSW) Various (pair near nest) © MD
crthbil_20190617.m4a (SW QLD) Various (family clan) © MD
crthbil_20190617_3.m4a (SW QLD) Various (family clan) © MD
crthbil_20190618.m4a (SW QLD) Various (family clan) © MD
crthbil_20190620.m4a (SW QLD) Various (family clan) © MD
crthbil_20190930.mp3 (NW NSW) Various © MD
crthbil_20221226.mp3 (NW NSW) Various © MD
crthbil_20170920_2.m4a (NW NSW) ? (adults) © MD
crthbil_20141127_j.mp3 (NW NSW) Various (juvenile) © MD
crthbil_me_20221026.mp3 (S SA) Various © ME
crthbil_20170920_3.m4a (NW NSW) Juveniles begging & adults responding © MD
crthbil_20170920.m4a (NW NSW) Juveniles begging & adults responding © MD

More Chestnut-rumped Thornbill sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.