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17

Inland Thornbill

(Acanthiza apicalis)
Alternate name(s): "Broad-tailed Thornbill"
Aboriginal name(s): "djoolbedjoolbong" (WA)

Size: 9.5-10.5 cm
Weight: 6-10 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 Inland Thornbill at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here .

Race "apicalis"

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"

ADULT

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 looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]

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]

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"

Note below the variability of the plumage, in the colour of the forehead and the amount of frontal striation.

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" looking sideways; note the faint streaking down the front
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Comparison of three Inland Thornbills "whitlocki" with different appearances - these photos are of members of the same mob, taken at the same location - the all-black bills indicate that neither bird is a juvenile; the red irises show that neither of these birds is a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
Left: brown forehead, strong striation, like a Brown Thornbill
Centre: greyish forehead, no visible striation, similar to a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
Right: dark-grey forehead, clearly visible striation, similar to race "albiventris"
(photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Near-frontal view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Near-lateral view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Lateral view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Near-dorsal view of an Inland Thornbill "whitlocki" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]

Race "whitlocki"/"apicalis"/"albiventris" mix

In the Gammon Ranges NP in north-eastern SA we found the birds shown below, with heavy streaking but otherwise pale colours.

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Inland Thornbill
[Gammon Ranges NP, SA, March 2008]

Lateral view of an Inland Thornbill
[Gammon Ranges NP, SA, March 2008]

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]

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]

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_20230523.mp3 albiventris
(NW NSW)
Various (mob) © 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

We have also been able to record the wing beats of Inland Thornbills.

inthbil_20230726.mp3 albiventris
(NW NSW)
Arrival, contact call, departure © MD

More Inland 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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.