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Inland ThornbillAlternate name(s): "Broad-tailed Thornbill" ![]() Size: 9.5-10.5 cm Weight: 6-10 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here .
Race "apicalis"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]
Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]
Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Manjimup, WA, March 2015]
Near-lateral view of an Inland Thornbill
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]
Inland Thornbill drinking water from a leaking storage tank
[Flinders
Ranges NP, SA, March 2008]
Pair of Inland Thornbill in a shrub
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]
Dorsal view of an Inland Thornbill
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]
Race "albiventris"
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
Male Inland Thornbill courting a female at the end of winter
[Near Narrabri, NSW, ca. 2008]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]
Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]
Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill looking sideways, with all characteristic
features in one go: Striated front, deep-brown rump, red eyes
and dark legs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]
Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill looking sideways
[Gundabooka NP,
near Bourke, NSW, September 2017]
Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill; note the striated front,
deep-brown rump, red eyes and dark legs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]
Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a
singing
Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]
Near-lateral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]
Near-lateral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]
Near-lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]
Near-lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill; this is the bird
whose calls were
recorded on 12 September 2019
[Bullawa Creek SCA,
near Narrabri, NSW, September 2019]
Close-up lateral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]
Close-up lateral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]
Lateral view of an Inland Thornbill inspecting a bird bath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]
Lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Dandry Gorge AA,
NSW, June 2016]
Lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill; note the dark legs
Lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill
Near-dorsal view of an Inland Thornbill
[The Drip Gorge,
Goulburn River NP, NSW, December 2015]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]
Dorsal view of an Inland Thornbill, giving a clear view of
the deep-brown rump
[Near Narrabri, NSW, ca. 2008]
Ventral view of an Inland Thornbill; one can see clearly the striated
face, throat and breast
Close-up ventral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]
Frontal comparison of an Inland Thornbill with a
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2023]
Inland Thornbill hovering in front of a branch from which it
then picked a small insect, possibly an aphid
[August 2008]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a juvenile Inland Thornbill (photo courtesy of
C. Hayne)
[Terry Hie Hie, NSW, October 2013]
Frontal view of a fledgling Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]
Lateral view of a fledgling Inland Thornbill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]
Race "whitlocki"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki"
[Gammon Ranges NP,
SA, March 2008]
Lateral view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki"
[Gammon Ranges NP,
SA, March 2008]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Family clan |
Inland Thornbills are gregarious birds; although territorial with respect to others of their own species, they are seen by us regularly together with other species of thornbills.
Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill inspecting a bird bath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]
Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill in a bird bath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]
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Food, Diet |
Like several other species of the Acanthiza family, Inland Thornbills hunt for small insects and spiders in low shrubs and trees. They have also been seen by us also taking insects in flight.
Inland Thornbill with the legs of its prey, a spider, still
sticking out
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, December 2022]
Inland Thornbill with its prey, probably a
psyllid
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]
This Inland Thornbill looks like it has a
lerp
in its bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]
Inland Thornbill looking for prey between the seed cones of a
Callistemon shrub
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2023]
Inland Thornbill with a
casuarina
flower; we do not know whether the bird took nectar or what
else it might want to do with the flower
[Pilliga West SCA,
NSW, March 2018]
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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.
inthbil_20190403.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Contact call? | © MD | |
inthbil_20200912.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Territorial calls? | © MD | |
inthbil_20220918.mp3 |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Territorial calls? | © MD | |
inthbil_20190912.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Territorial calls? (+ Rainbow Bee-eater) |
© MD | |
inthbil_20180725.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Male courting female(?) | © MD | |
inthbil_20180909.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Male courting female(?) | © MD | |
inthbil_20171019.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Various | © MD | |
inthbil_20140612.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
Various | © MD | |
inthbil_20180928.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
? | © MD | |
inthbil_20190628.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
? | © MD | |
inthbil_20200815.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
? | © MD | |
inthbil_20210313.m4a |
albiventris (NW NSW) |
? | © MD |
More Inland Thornbill sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.