17

Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris) Alternate name(s): "Brown Weebill", "Yellow Weebill", "Tree-tit"; MISNOMERS: "Scrub-tit*", "Short-billed Scrub-tit" Aboriginal name(s): "kiderbot" (WA) Size: 8.5-9.5 cm Body mass: 4-8 g

Australia: Family Group 17 Family Group 17 Table Spotted Pardalote Forty-spotted Pardalote Red-browed Pardalote Striated Pardalote Large-billed Scrubwren Atherton Scrubwren White-browed Scrubwren Spotted Scrubwren Tasmanian Scrubwren Yellow-throated Scrubwren Pilotbird Rock Warbler Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Shy Heathwren Striated Fieldwren Rufous Fieldwren Fernwren Scrubtit Speckled Warbler Redthroat Western Gerygone Brown Gerygone Mangrove Gerygone Dusky 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 Mountain Thornbill Southern Whiteface Chestnut-breasted Whiteface Banded 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 Weebills are very small bushland birds. They are amongst the smallest birds in Australia. Their plumage has inconspicuous colours ranging from yellowish-grey (front) to olive-brownish-grey (back) to a grey tail with white terminal band. The throat is greyish, sometimes with some striation. Weebills have a light eyebrow compared to the surrounding facial colours. The top of the upper mandible of the short bill is grey, whereas the rest of the bill is horn-coloured. The eyes have greyish irises. The legs and feet are grey. Details of the colour pattern depend on race. Race "flavescens" is the yellowest, "occidentalis" is greyer than the others and "ochrogaster" is paler than the rest. Juveniles have a brighter, yellowish bill.

Taxonomy, classification See Weebill 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 Weebill is available HERE . Weebills are endemic to Australia. In total there are four races of Weebills that populate almost the entire Australian continent, with the exception of the Lake Eyre Basin, most of the great sandy deserts of WA and the Nullarbor. Nominate race "brevirostris" populates eastern and central QLD and NSW and all of VIC. Race "flavescens" is found in western QLD and the Cape York peninsula, plust the entire NT and the Kimberley in WA. Race "occidentalis" lives in an area including the western-most edge of NSW (West of Broken Hill), southern SA and south-eastern WA (along the West coast up to about Dirk Hartog Island. Race "ochrogaster" is found in the northern half of western WA, up to the catchment of the Fitzroy River, and along a narrow stretch from central WA towards the NT/SA border. Weebills usually live in forest, including dry (often sclerophyll) forest, and open woodland. Where to look? How to find this species? Weebills normally stay high up in tree crowns, which - combined with the fact that they are among the smallest Australian birds - makes them hard to visually identify. Identification is further hampered by the fact that they often move around in mixed flocks with various other small birds, in most cases species of thornbills. But fortunately they have got a VOICE. Especially their surprisingly loud, far-carrying territorial calls, which are not used by any other species, can lead the observer to finding and identifying Weebills (even from considerable distances).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "brevirostris" Weebills, race "brevirostris", are found by us regularly in northern inland NSW. They were spotted by us e.g. 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, at Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30 km East of Narrabri and also 20 km West of Barraba, NSW. Later we also spotted Weebills, race "brevirostris", in various parts of the Pilliga scrub, South of Narrabri, NSW. We also spotted Weebills, race "brevirostris", including fledgling birds, at Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, in June 2008 and August 2011. C. Hayne reports that Weebills, race "brevirostris", are also common in the area of Moree, NSW. R. Plumtree reports spotting Weebills, race "brevirostris", in Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, in January 2018. This location is near the southern boundary of the species' range. We find Weebills, race "brevirostris", regularly in remnant woodland between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW. M. Eaton reports finding a Weebill, race "brevirostris", at the Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, which is near the western boundary of their range, on various occasions. They were also found at the Roma Bush Gardens, Roma, QLD, in August 2022. Race "occidentalis" Weebills, race "occidentalis", were spotted by us at Arkaroola, in the Gammon Ranges, SA, in March 2008. J. Greaves reports spotting Weebills, race "occidentalis", at Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, in July 2016. R. Plumtree reports spotting Weebills, race "occidentalis", between Berri and Renmark, SA, in September 2018. Race "flavescens" We spotted Weebills, race "flavescens", in a gully about 100 km East of Tibooburra, NSW, in September 2012. B. Hensen reports spotting Weebills, race "flavescens", along the Marrakai track, NT, in August 2013. We spotted this race at Fogg Dam CR in August 2014. H. Mouritsen spotted a Weebill, race "flavescens", near Darwin, NT, in October 2015. P. Brown reports finding Weebills, race "flavescens", at Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, in April 2018, and at Keep River NP, NT, in November 2018. M. Eaton reports spotting a Weebill, race "flavescens", at Artemis Station, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in June 2024. Others were found at a waterhole 100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, in June 2026.

Photos

Race "brevirostris"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a Weebill looking sideways (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Dripping Rock, near Maules Creek, NSW, October 2012]

Frontal view of a Weebill looking sideways
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, August 2011]

Frontal/ventral view of a Weebill looking sideways
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Weebill looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roma Bush Gardens, Roma, QLD, August 2022]

Near-lateral portrait of a Weebill (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Dripping Rock, near Maules Creek, NSW, October 2012]

Near-lateral view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roma Bush Gardens, Roma, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of a Weebill looking towards the observer
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a Weebill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2022]

Lateral view of a Weebill hanging off a twig, head down
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Weebill
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2021]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Weebill
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roma Bush Gardens, Roma, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Weebill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2025]

Dorsal view of a Weebill
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Weebill - note the horn-coloured upper mandible and the soft plumage with some hairy-looking feathers still to be shed
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile(?) Weebill
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of two fledgling Weebills waiting to be fed
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, June 2008]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of two fledgling Weebills waiting to be fed
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, June 2008]

Race "occidentalis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Weebill
[Arkaroola, SA, March 2008]

Frontal/ventral view of a Weebill issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Near-frontal view of a Weebill looking sideways
[Arkaroola, SA, March 2008]

Near-frontal view of a Weebill looking sideways
[Arkaroola, SA, March 2008]

Lateral view of a Weebill with its head turned towards the observer
[Arkaroola, SA, March 2008]

Lateral view of a Weebill issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Lateral view of a Weebill issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Lateral view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Between Berri and Renmark, SA, September 2018]

Race "flavescens"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Keep River NP, NT, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Weebill leaning sideways (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a Weebill having a drink (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, June 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Keep River NP, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Weebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Artemis Station, Cape York peninsula, QLD, June 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a Weebill looking sideways (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Marrakai track, NT, August 2013]

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

Breeding information

Breeding season: July - May

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 10 - 12 days

Fledging age: ?

The breeding season of Weebills depends on geographic latitude and climatic conditions. They can breed almost any time of the year.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Dome

Material: Grass, soft plant fibres, cobwebs

Height above ground: 3 - ? m

Nests of Weebills are usually placed in the tops of live trees and shrubs, concealed in dense foliage.

View of a Weebill nest that was built uncharacteristically low in a eucalypt, only 2 m above ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2022]

View from below of a Weebill nest in the top of a young eucalypt, showing clearly the side entrance
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

From the side, even when standing at the level of the tree crown, the same Weebill nest as shown above is hard to find
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Weebill nest right at the top of a young tree
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, October 2018]

Weebill nest right at the top of a young tree
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, October 2018]

Near-doral view of a Weebill that flew straight to this point on a steep creek bank - to harvest the web of a small spider for binding its nest
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Near-doral view of a Weebill harvesting the web of a small spider for binding its nest
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Eggs

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

Size: 15 x 11 mm

Colour: Creamy, with greyish-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary/roaming?

Elementary unit: Family clan/mob

Weebills are often seen by us foraging in trees together with mixed flocks of thornbills (mostly Yellow Thornbills and Inland Thornbills or Brown Thornbills).

Weebills are so light-weight, they can without problems hang off the end of a eucalypt leaf
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2021]

Weebills can hover to take lerps/psyllids from the underside of a eucalypt leaf
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2026]

Food, Diet

Weebills forage through the foliage in the crowns of trees for small insects.

Weebill taking a spider
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

An unusual sight: Weebill foraging on the ground
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

An unusual sight: Weebill with a small insect taken from the ground
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

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.

weebill_20200824.m4a	brevirostris (NW NSW)	Territorial calls?	© MD
weebill_20230729.mp3	brevirostris (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (Q&A)	© MD
weebill_20170920.m4a	brevirostris (W NSW)	Territorial calls? (Q&A)	© MD
weebill_20181215.m4a	brevirostris (W NSW)	Territorial calls? (Q&A)	© MD
weebill_20170920_2.m4a	brevirostris (W NSW)	Various	© MD
weebill_20200816.m4a	brevirostris (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
weebill_20250805.m4a	brevirostris (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
weebill_20180902.m4a	brevirostris (NW NSW)	?	© MD
weebill_20240623.m4a	brevirostris (NW NSW)	? (mob)	© MD
weebill_jg_20160710.m4a	occidentalis (SW WA)	Feeding calls & contact call	© JG
weebill_pb_20180708.m4a	flavescens (Top End, NT)	Contact call	© PB
weebill_pb_20200609.m4a	flavescens (Top End, NT)	Contact call	© PB
weebill_pb_20190709.m4a	flavescens (Top End, NT)	Contact calls Q&A	© PB

We have also recorded the wing beats of Weebills.

weebill_20180902_2.m4a	brevirostris (NW NSW)	Level flight	© MD
weebill_20200816_2.m4a	brevirostris (NW NSW)	Foraging	© MD

More Weebill 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.