17

Striated Pardalote

(Pardalotus striatus)
: "Striated Diamond-bird", "Pickwick", "Wittachew", "Chip-chip"; race "striatus": "Yellow-tipped Pardalote"; races "ornatus", "substriatus", "uropygialis": "Red-tipped Pardalote"; race "melanocephalus": "Black-headed Pardalote"

Aboriginal name(s): Race "substriatus": "bilyabit"^*, "widopwidop"^* (WA)
Size: 9.5-11.5 cm
Weight: 9-15 g

Similar
species

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

Striated Pardalotes are very small bushland birds. Details of their plumage depend on race. The features common to all races are a dark cap (either solid black or black-and-white striated), prominent white eyebrow and white front with a bright-yellow central stripe and yellow flanks. The back of all races is brownish-grey, while the wings are black with white outer edges to the flight feathers and one prominent spot on each shoulder (which can be red or yellow). Females of some races ("uropygialis", "melvillensis") have a scalloped-grey crown. All races also have two frontal spots near the eyes (which can be yellow or orange). The vent and belly are creamy to yellowish. The irises are black; the bill is dark-grey, the legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have duller colours than adults; in particular, they lack the dark cap and other black head plumage.

Taxonomy, classification

See Striated 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 Striated Pardalote is available HERE .

Striated Pardalotes are endemic to Australia. There are in total six races of Striated Pardalotes in Australia; for details see a field guide. Striated Pardalotes are found in most parts of the Australian continent and Tasmania, except the most arid parts, i.e. the Simpson Desert and the area from the Nullarbor to South of the Kimberley (essentially the eastern part of WA and the south-west corner of the NT.
Nominate race "striatus" is found in Tasmania and the smaller islands along Bass Strait.

Along the NSW and VIC coast and Great Dividing Range there is race "ornatus".
Along the QLD coast South of Townsville and the Great Dividing Range behind the coastal strip one finds race "melanocephalus".
The tropical North, northward of a line connecting Townsville, QLD, and Broome, WA, is populated by race "uropygialis", except Bathurst and Melville Islands outside Darwin, NT, where race "melvillensis" is found.
The rest of the continent, with the exceptions made above, is populated by race "substriatus".
Striated Pardalotes can be found in eucalypt forest and open woodland.

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Race "striatus"

B. Hensen spotted Striated Pardalotes, nominate race "striatus", at the Peter Murrell Reserve near Kingston, TAS, in March 2016.

Race "substriatus"

Striated Pardalotes (mostly race "substriatus"), but occasionally also hybrids between different races, are numerous and widespread in inland NSW, including the Narrabri area.

For example, Striated Pardalotes were found by us 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, then 25 km West, 30 km North of town and at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of town. Also found by us at Maules Creek.

A pair of Striated Pardalotes, race "substriatus", built their nest close to our place at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri in 2007/08. They nested later than the local Speckled Warblers and stayed around the place throughout spring and summer, during which they could be seen and heard around the house frequently and, starting in January, their offspring came around.

C. Hayne reports that Striated Pardalotes, race "substriatus", are also common in the area of Moree, NSW.

The classification of the birds found in northern inland NSW is difficult, because this is a transition zone between two races, "melanocephalus" (black-headed) and "substriatus" (striated head).

We spotted Striated Pardalotes, race "substriatus", in the Flinders Ranges, SA, in March 2008. The wing spot is red and the head is entirely striated.

J. Greaves reports spotting Striated Pardalotes, race "substriatus", at Dryandra Woodlands, WA, in August 2015, and at Lake Gwelup, Perth, WA, in July 2016.

In November 2022, C. Pears reports finding Striated Pardalotes, race "substriatus", in Quindalup, WA, where they were nesting at the time.

Click here for sighting information Race "ornatus"

We spotted Striated Pardalotes, race "ornatus", near Uralla, NSW, in January 2011. I. Duncan reports spotting race race "ornatus" at South West Rocks, NSW, in September 2011.

R. Plumtree reports finding Striated Pardalotes, race "ornatus", at Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, in September 2018, and again in November 2019.

Click here for sighting information Race "melanocephalus"

A. Ross-Taylor reports spotting Striated Pardalotes, race "melanocephalus", in Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, in the time frame April-June 2014.

T. Allison reports spotting race "melanocephalus" at Mooloolah River NP on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, in July 2014.

We have spotted race "melanocephalus" in parts of the Pilliga scrub and in Coonabarabran, NSW, e.g. in October 2015.

M. Eaton reports spotting Striated Pardalotes, race "melanocephalus", in various different locations in SE QLD.

Click here for sighting information Race "uropygialis"

B. Hensen reports spotting Striated Pardalotes, race "uropygialis", at Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, in March 2013, at Mareeba Wetlands, QLD, in July 2013, and again in Darwin, NT, in August 2017.

P. Brown reports finding Striated Pardalotes, race "uropygialis", at Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, in February 2018.

P. Brown also found Striated Pardalotes, race "uropygialis", at Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, in April 2018.

M. Eaton reports spotting a Striated Pardalote, race "uropygialis", at Artemis Station, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019, and at the Victoria River Roadhouse, NT, in July 2020.

J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours spotted Striated Pardalotes, race "uropygialis", at Mareeba, QLD, in September 2020.

Photos

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Race "striatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote "striatus" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)

[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Race "substriatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus" (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)

Near-lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus" (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Near-lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus" with its feathers ruffled (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus" (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus" (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Close-up lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus"
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2019]

Close-up dorsal view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus"
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2009]

Close-up dorsal view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus" collecting nesting material
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2016]

Pair of Striated Pardalotes "substriatus" (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote, race "substriatus"; this bird does not have pure juvenile characteristics any longer (the yellow bib is developing and the cap is not dull brown any longer), but the pale-yellow gape clearly indicates that it is not an adult either
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Striated Pardalote, race "substriatus"; this bird does not have pure juvenile characteristics any longer (the yellow bib is developing and the cap is not dull brown any longer), but the pale-yellow gape clearly indicates that it is not an adult either
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Adult Striated Pardalote, race "substriatus", with two dependent juveniles - these are the birds whose begging calls were recorded on 4 October 2019
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2019]

Race "ornatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up full-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote "ornatus" (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2018]

Frontal view of a Striated Pardalote issuing its call (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote "ornatus" (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2018]

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "ornatus" (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2018]

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "ornatus" with food for its chick; try as we might, we could not find the young bird that we heard responding to the adult's calls
[Dangars Lagoon, near Uralla, NSW, January 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a Striated Pardalote "ornatus" (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2018]

Race "melanocephalus"

ADULT

PAIR

Near-lateral view of a p air of Striated Pardalotes (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, July 2023]

Frontal view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Frontal view of a Striated Pardalote issuing its call
[Whittaker's Lagoon, NSW, June 2012]

Frontal view of a Striated Pardalote looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, July 2023]

Frontal/ventral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, May 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, July 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote with its wings spread (photo courtesy of T. Allison)
[Mooloolah River NP, Sunshine Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Reserve, QLD, April 2018]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, March 2017]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, July 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Close-up lateral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, July 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Striated Pardalote issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, July 2023]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, July 2023]

Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Reserve, QLD, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote in flight, inspecting a house wall for potential prey
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2014]

Races "melanocephalus/substriatus"

In the area where we live, in inland north-western NSW, three races of Striated Pardalotes overlap: ornatus, substriatus and melanocephalus. This can lead to observations of hybrids, as shown here.

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal portrait of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Armidale, NSW, September 2013]

Frontal view of a Striated Pardalote; note how the black cap indicates race "melanocephalus", while the striated pattern around the eyes and the wing markings show the influence of race "substriatus"
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, May 2013]

Frontal view of a Striated Pardalote
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2010]

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

Near-frontal view of a Striated Pardalote ; again the black cap indicates race "melanocephalus", while the striated pattern around the eyes and the wing markings show the influence of race "substriatus"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Lateral view of a nosy Striated Pardalote
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[5 km east of Armidale, NSW, September 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Juvenile Striated Pardalote melanocephalus/substriatus
[January 2008]

Juvenile Striated Pardalote approaching a waterhole
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2009]

Lateral view of a juvenile Striated Pardalote from underneath
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2012]

Juvenile Striated Pardalote begging for food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2009]

Lateral view of a fledgling Striated Pardalote; one can see that the bird's plumage is still partly downy
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Race "uropygialis"

Sexing Striated Pardalotes of race "uropygialis" in the field, and even from photos, is difficult. For an attempted explanation, click below.

Click here for sexing information

ADULT

MALE

Full-frontal view of a male Striated Pardalote "uropygialis"; note the solid-black cap (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Striated Pardalote "uropygialis" - note the solid-black cap (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Striated Pardalote "uropygialis" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Victoria River Roadhouse, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a male Striated Pardalote "uropygialis" (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Lateral view of a male Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Lateral view of a male Striated Pardalote "uropygialis" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Victoria River Roadhouse, NT, July 2020]

Partly obscured lateral view of a male Striated Pardalote; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 19 February 2018 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Ventral view of a male Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

FEMALE

Pair of Striated Pardalotes, race "uropygialis"; female above - note the grey cap (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Frontal view of a female Striated Pardalote, race "uropygialis", with its head turned - note the grey cap
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Lateral view of a female Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Striated Pardalote (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Artemis Station, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Striated Pardalote "uropygialis" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, August 2017]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan Eggs: 3 - 4 Incubation period: 14 - 16 days Fledging age: ca. 21 - 28 days

In the tropical North of Australia Stritaed Pardalotes breed during the dry season.

These two Striated Pardalotes are getting "into the mood"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral view of a Striated Pardalote collecting nesting material (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[5 km east of Armidale, NSW, September 2013]

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

Type: Tunnel or hollow with basket Material: Bark strips, grass Height above ground: 0 - 10 m

Striated Pardalotes not only build their own nests, but have also been observed by us recycling other species' nests. Usually they use horizontal branches, but also various substitutes, such as pipes.

There is a separate page describing the dissection of a Striated Pardalote nest.

Entrance to a Striated Pardalote nest tunnel (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Striated Pardalote leaving its nest tunnel (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Overview of the location of the above Striated Pardalote nest tunnel in the cut-out sandbank of an eroded beach
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Striated Pardalote right outside its nest tunnel (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Striated Pardalote at the entrance of its nesting hollow in an ironbark eucalypt tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]

This Fairy Martin nest (the one with the bottle shape right at the centre) was re-used by a pair of Striated Pardalotes; an attempt to photograph a bird when entering or leaving failed due to bad light under the overhanging rock
[Dripping Rock, near Maules Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Striated Pardalotes can be very crafty when it comes to selecting the right nesting hollow (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Striated Pardalote entering its nesting hollow (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

This Striated Pardalote is entering its nesting hollow in a vertical creek bank
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Striated Pardalote leaving its nest tunnel to dispose of a poo sac discharged by a chick (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, August 2016]

Striated Pardalote bringing food for its chicks (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, August 2016]

Striated Pardalote nest in a gravelly bank (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Striated Pardalote "substriatus" collecting nesting material (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, July 2013]

Threads of palm leaves (although not native to Australia) are highly appreciated by many species, including Striated Pardalotes, as material for lining their nests
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Close-up lateral view of a Striated Pardalote "substriatus" collecting nesting material
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2016]

Two Striated Pardalotes investigating the potential of a steep bank for building a nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

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

Size:18 x 15 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Migratory/dispersive Elementary unit: Pair

Striated Pardalote extending its body, making full use of the resonance produced in its thorax to intonate a strong call
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, June 2020]

Food, Diet

Striated Pardalotes forage through the foliages of trees for small insects. They are often credited with the title "Saviour of the trees" and the photo below gives an example why - note the lerps the bird has in its bill.

Striated Pardalote with a good haul of lerps; they do not only eat these sugary secretions, but also the leaf-eating insects producing them - psyllids
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2010]

Striated Pardalote foraging in a eucaypt tree; its target are the white spots (lerps of psyllids )
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2012]

Striated Pardalote looking around
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2012]

Gotcha! Striated Pardalote with its prize
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2012]

Two Striated Pardalotes seen by us looking for insects on the ground, under a tree infested with psyllids
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2012]

Striated Pardalote beating a caterpillar to death before devouring it (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, June 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.

strpard_20180516.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
strpard_20170817.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
strpard_20170920.m4a	substriatus (W NSW)	Contact calls (Q&A)	© MD
strpard_20210424.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls (Q&A)	© MD
strpard_20141016_2.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls & feeding calls	© MD
strpard_20190816.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Contact calls + feeding calls (Q&A)	© MD
strpard_20151008.mp3	substriatus (NW NSW)	Alarm call? (human near nest)	© MD
strpard_20190310.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Feeding call	© MD
strpard_20210424_2.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Feeding calls	© MD
strpard_20191004.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	Begging calls (2 juveniles)	© MD
strpard_20220410.m4a	substriatus (NW NSW)	?	© MD
strpard_20140925.mp3	substriatus (NW NSW)	?	© MD

strpard_art_20140411.m4a	melanocephalus (SE QLD)	Contact calls	© ART
strpard_20151003.mp3	melanocephalus (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD

strpard_pb_20180219_2.m4a	uropygialis (Top End, NT)	Contact calls (male)	© PB
strpard_pb_20180603.m4a	uropygialis (Top End, NT)	Territorial calls (male)	© PB
strpard_pb_20180603_2.m4a	uropygialis (Top End, NT)	Territorial calls (male)	© PB
strpard_pb_20180503.m4a	uropygialis (Top End, NT)	Territorial calls (male)	© PB
strpard_pb_20180503_3.m4a	uropygialis (Top End, NT)	Territorial calls (2 competing males) + Bar-shouldered Dove	© PB

More Striated Pardalote sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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17

Striated Pardalote

Similarspecies

Physical description

Taxonomy, classification

Range, habitat, finding this species

Sightings

Photos

Race "striatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Race "substriatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Race "ornatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Race "melanocephalus"

ADULT

PAIR

Sex unknown

Races "melanocephalus/substriatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Race "uropygialis"

ADULT

MALE

FEMALE

Sex unknown

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Breeding information

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food, Diet

Call(s)/Song

Similar
species