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17

Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus) Alternate name(s): "Diamond-bird", "Ground Dyke", "Diamond Dyke", "Ground Diamond", "Yellow-rumped Pardalote", "Yellow-tailed Pardalote", "(Spotted) Diamond Dyke" Aboriginal name(s): "bilyabit"*, "widopwidop"* (WA); "weetuwee" Size: 8-10 cm Weight: 6-12 g

Australia: Family Group 17 Family Group 17 Table Spotted Pardalote Forty-spotted Pardalote Red-browed Pardalote Striated Pardalote Large-billed Scrubwren White-browed Scrubwren Tasmanian Scrubwren Yellow-throated Scrubwren Pilotbird Rock Warbler Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Shy Heathwren Striated Fieldwren Rufous Fieldwren Scrubtit Speckled Warbler Redthroat Western Gerygone Brown Gerygone Mangrove Gerygone Large-billed Gerygone Green-backed Gerygone Fairy Gerygone White-throated Gerygone Weebill Yellow Thornbill Striated Thornbill Buff-rumped Thornbill Yellow-rumped Thornbill Western Thornbill Slender-billed Thornbill Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Brown Thornbill Inland Thornbill Slaty-backed Thornbill Tasmanian Thornbill Southern Whiteface Chestnut-breasted Whiteface Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Spotted Pardalotes are very small bushland birds. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are slightly different. Male Spotted Pardalotes have a black cap with prominent white spots and white eyebrows. The throat and underwing coverts are dark-amber. The underparts (belly, vent) are creamy, while the back is brown-and-black scalloped. The wings and tail are black with white spots. Race "punctatus" has an chestnut-red rump, while "xanthopyge" has a bright-yellow rump with a chestnut lower edge. Female Spotted Pardalotes have yellowish-rufous spots, rather than white, and their throat is creamy, rather than dark-amber. The irises of both sexes are black; the bill is dark-grey, the legs are pinkish-grey. Juveniles have duller, more brownish colours, but otherwise resemble females.

Taxonomy, classification See Spotted Pardalote at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Spotted Pardalote is available HERE . The three extant races of Striated Pardalotes are all endemic to Australia. They are found only in the East, South-East and South-West of the Australian continent. The northern-most race, "millitaris", is found on the Atherton Tablelands and along the ranges South of the Milaroo River, QLD. Further South, along the South QLD and NSW/VIC coast, ranges and into the inland of NSW and VIC, plus Tasmania, nominate race "punctatus" resides. This race is also found on the south-western tip of WA. In south-western NSW and south-eastern SA, plus an area inland of the south-western tip of WA, race "xanthophyge" is present. Spotted Pardalotes are mainly found in eucalypt forests, including dry eucalypt forest and mallee (race "xanthophyge").

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "punctatus" Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", are seen by us only infrequently where we live, in open farm country at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, NSW, although one can almost always hear them out in the bush. They are frequently found by us in Deriah Aboriginal Area, on the fringes of Mt. Kaputar NP, some 30 km East of Narrabri, and in Mt. Kaputar NP itself. Immature birds were seen there in January 2009. In a gully near Mt. Coryah once about 50 Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", were observed in a flock. Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", have been found by us at altitudes of up to 1400 m. Sometimes they were spotted in Jack's Creek State Forest, 25 km South of Narrabri, and in other parts of the Pilliga scrub and also (in 2005 and 2008) in the Glacial Valley of Rocky Creek, some 70 km North-East of Narrabri. Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", were also spotted on a trip to Royal NP, South of Sydney, NSW. C. Hayne reports that Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", are also common in well-vegetated areas around Moree, NSW. R. Plumtree reports finding Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", nesting near Ensay, East Gipssland, VIC, in October 2014. B. Hensen spotted Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", on North Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016. M. Eaton spotted Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", in Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, in August 2017. M. Eaton also reports finding Spotted Pardalotes, race "punctatus", along the Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, in April 2021, and at Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, in September 2021. Race "xanthophyge" J. Greaves reports finding Spotted Pardalotes, race "xanthophyge", at Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, WA, in October 2017, where they were breeding at the time.

Photos

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Race "punctatus"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote checking out the photographer; the bird was extremely curious and came to check out the photographer, approaching to a distance of less than 2.5 m
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2006]

Close-up frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote - note the white spots; the bird was extremely curious and came to check out the photographer, approaching to a distance of less than 2.5 m
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2015]

Frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, October 2021]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote; the bird was extremely curious and came to check out the photographer, approaching to a distance of less than 2.5 m
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2015]

Near-frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote; here the chestnut rump characteristic of race "punctatus" is visible
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cunningham's Gap, QLD, June 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Spotted Pardalote
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, November 2006]

Lateral view of a male Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of the same male Spotted Pardalote
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2006]

Lateral view of a male Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Similar view, taken in optimal light conditions, which brings out the brilliance of the Spotted Pardalote's colours
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2006]

Close-up lateral view of a male Spotted Pardalote
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Spotted Pardalote
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2006]

The Spotted Pardalote was so relaxed that it decided to preen itself - here an interesting view into the plumage from underneath
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2006]

Dorsal view of a male Spotted Pardalote
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

FEMALE

Close-up frontal view of a female Spotted Pardalote - note the yellow spots; the bird was extremely curious and came to check out the photographer, approaching to a distance of less than 2.5 m
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2015]

The same female Spotted Pardalote as shown above, now seen preening ; the bird was extremely curious and came to check out the photographer, approaching to a distance of less than 2.5 m
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, August 2015]

Frontal view of a female Spotted Pardalote looking sideways
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a female Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, July 2012]

Near-lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

Lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2012]

Close-up lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

Lateral view of a preening female Spotted Pardalote
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2012]

Lateral view of a preening female Spotted Pardalote
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2012]

Close-up lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2012]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a female Spotted Pardalote
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, August 2019]

Ventral view of a female Spotted Pardalote
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Spotted Pardalote approaching a waterhole
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2009]

Lateral view of a fledgling Spotted Pardalote on the ground (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, October 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a fledgling Spotted Pardalote
[Dandry AA, NSW, October 2013]

Race "xanthophyge"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote carrying food for its brood (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, WA, October 2017]

Near-frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, WA, October 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, WA, October 2017]

Lateral view of a male Spotted Pardalote; note the yellow rump with chestnut lower margin typical for this race (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, WA, October 2017]

Ventral view of a male Spotted Pardalote (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, WA, October 2017]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote just outside its nest burrow (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, WA, October 2017]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Jan

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 14 - 16 days

Fledging age: ca. 21 - 28 days

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Proof positive that both male and female Spotted Pardalotes contribute to building their nest: Male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

Dorsal view of a male Spotted Pardalote carrying nesting material (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

Near-frontal view of a female Spotted Pardalote carrying nesting material (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

Nest

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

Type: Tunnel with basket

Material: Sandy soil, bark strips, grass

Height above ground: N/A

Entrance to a Spotted Pardalote's nest dug out of the soft sand lining a gully that is part of a creek which only floods after extreme rainfall
[Rocky Creek, NSW, September 2008]

Spotted Pardalote's nest dug out of soft sand (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2015]

This Spotted Pardalote burrow was found when its occupants were still lining the nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2014]

Spotted Pardalote carrying lining material to its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2014]

Different entrance to a Spotted Pardalote's nest; in this case the birds took advantage of a fallen tree's root system for protection - the entrance is the cavity on the right (see photo below)
[Pilliga NP, NSW, August 2013]

Spotted Pardalote entering the tunnel to its nest with nesting material
[Pilliga NP, NSW, August 2013]

Pair of Spotted Pardalotes collecting nesting material
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, August 2008]

Eggs

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

Size:16 x 13 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair

Amongst Spotted Pardalotes, the males are definitely more curious than the females. Only when taking first photos of a female together with a male we noticed that previously we had always seen males that had come to check us out.

Curious male Spotted Pardalote raising its crown to form a small crest
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, May 2013]

Female Spotted Pardalote fluttering its wings; we have seen the behaviour in other species, where it signified a readiness to mate... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

... and the female Spotted Pardalote got a response, too; only it was an unexpected one, from a (male?) Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

Food, Diet

Spotted Pardalotes forage through the foliage of trees for small insects. They feed mostly on psyllids and lerps.

Female Spotted Pardalote taking a psyllid
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2012]

Upside-down female Spotted Pardalote looking for prey
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2012]

Female Spotted Pardalote taking a small spider
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW , July 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a female Spotted Pardalote at a waterhole
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

Together with Striated Pardalotes, in a bunch of about 20-25 birds, Spotted Pardalotes were the first observed by us to visit a waterhole before sunrise. Other bird species followed later.

Three of a bunch of up to 20 Spotted Pardalotes visiting a local waterhole prior to sunrise
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2009]

Spotted Pardalote drinking from a muddy waterhole
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2013]

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.

spopard_20140612.m4a	punctatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
spopard_20180707.m4a	punctatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls (long sequence)	© MD
spopard_20220528.m4a	punctatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls (Q&A)	© MD

More Spotted Pardalote 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.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Sun, 29 May 2022, 23:31 +00:00