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17

Rock Warbler

(Origma solitaria)
Alternate name(s): "Origma", "Cataract-bird", "Cavebird", "Rock Robin",
"Rock Swallow", "Sandstone Robin", "Hanging Dick"

Size: 12-14 cm
Weight: 14-16 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 Rock Warbler 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

Full-frontal view of a Rock Warbler (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Rock Warbler (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Rock Warbler
[Wottamolla, Royal NP, NSW, June 2015]

Near-lateral view of a Rock Warbler
[Wottamolla, Royal NP, NSW, June 2015]

Lateral view of a Rock Warbler on Hawkesbury sandstone, the type of rock dominating the soils to which this species' range is restricted (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, November 2012]

Lateral view of a Rock Warbler (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, February 2013]

Lateral view of a Rock Warbler
[Wottamolla, Royal NP, NSW, June 2015]

Lateral view of a Rock Warbler looking for prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2022]

Lateral/ventral view of a Rock Warbler (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Rock Warbler (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Rock Warbler
[Wottamolla, Royal NP, NSW, June 2015]

Dorsal view of a Rock Warbler (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2021]

Behaviour

Rock Warblers live exclusively on Hawkesbury sandstone. They spend much of their time hidden in dense shrubs, but will also often venture out on to open rock platforms, e.g. around rock pools or cliffs.

Dorsal view of a Rock Warbler in its typical habitat, on a Hawkesbury sandstone cliff
[Wottamolla, Royal NP, NSW, June 2015]

Rock pools of Wottamolla Creek - the habitat in which a pair of Rock Warblers was found by us near dusk
[Wottamolla, Royal NP, NSW, June 2015]

Lateral view of a Rock Warbler using its tail as a prop (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2022]

Lateral view of a Rock Warbler traveling at speed
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2022]

Dorsal view of a Rock Warbler using its tail as a prop
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, August 2022]

Food, Diet

Rock Warblers find much of their food on rock surfaces covered with lichen or other low plants.

Near-lateral view of a Rock Warbler with its prey, a small caterpillar (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2022]

Rock Warbler foraging between low plants
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, August 2022]

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.

rockwrb_20210626.m4a (Ctl W NSW) Contact calls? © MD
rockwrb_20210626_2.m4a (Ctl W NSW) Contact calls? © MD
rockwrb_20220807_2.m4a (Ctl W NSW) Contact calls? © MD
rockwrb_20210626_3.m4a (Ctl W NSW) ? © MD
rockwrb_20220807_4.m4a (Ctl W NSW) ? © MD
rockwrb_20220807.m4a (Ctl W NSW) ? © MD
rockwrb_20220630.m4a (Ctl W NSW) ? © MD
rockwrb_20220630_2.m4a (Ctl W NSW) ? (+ Spotted Pardalote) © MD
rockwrb_20150611.m4a (E NSW) ? © MD

More Rock Warbler 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.