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17

Western Gerygone

(Gerygone fusca)
Alternate name(s): "White-tailed Warbler", "White-tailed Flyeater", "Western Warbler",
"Western Flyeater", "Inland Warbler", "Fuscous Warbler", "Fuscous Flyeater", "Sleepy Dick"
Aboriginal name(s): Race "fusca": "warylbodang"

Size: 10-11 cm
Weight: 5-7 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 Western Gerygone at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "fusca"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Western Gerygone in flight, approaching a casuarina tree (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bells Rapids, Swan River, near Perth, WA, June 2015]

Race "exsul"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Western Gerygone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2010]

Different frontal view of a Western Gerygone; note the characteristic red eyes and thin white eyebrow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Western Gerygone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Western Gerygone (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roma Bush Gardens, Roma, QLD, August 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Western Gerygone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Western Gerygone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]

Lateral view of a Western Gerygone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Different lateral view of a Western Gerygone
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, August 2013]

Lateral view of a Western Gerygone at full stretch, trying to reach an insect
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a Western Gerygone (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roma Bush Gardens, Roma, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Western Gerygone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Dorsal view of a Western Gerygone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 12 - 14 days Fledging age: 13 - 15(?) days

Nest building: Female & male Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Domed hanging bottle Material: Grass stems, bark strips, webs Height above ground: 2 - 10 m

Click HERE to see a Western Gerygone feeding its chick and keeping the nest clean.

Western Gerygone chick at the entrance of its nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Merriwindi SCA, near Kenebri, NSW, January 2021]

Western Gerygone chick at the entrance of its nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Merriwindi SCA, near Kenebri, NSW, January 2021]

Western Gerygone nest hidden in a Cypress pine tree
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, October 2013]

Western Gerygone working on its nest, which is in an advanced stage of construction
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, October 2013]

Western Gerygone sitting on its nest
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2013]

Western Gerygone peeking out of its nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Western Gerygone sitting on its nest
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Western Gerygone sitting on its nest
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Western Gerygone nest in a Cypress pine tree
[Near Bugilbone, NSW, November 2017]

Eggs

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

Size: 18 x 14 mm Colour: Creamy, with light-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

We have seen Western Gerygones hunting for insects in various kinds of rough-barked trees, such as Acacia salicina, Acacia cambagei and Cypress pine.

Food, Diet

Western Gerygones prey on small insects that they take from leaves.

Lateral view of a Western Gerygone hunting for insects in an Acacia salicina tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Lateral view of a Western Gerygone hunting for insects (aphids?) in a Cypress pine tree
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, August 2013]

Lateral view of a Western Gerygone hunting for insects (aphids?) in a Cypress pine tree, trying to upright itself again
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, August 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.

wstgery_20220918.mp3 exsul
(NW NSW)
Territorial call (with long lead-up) © MD
wstgery_20220918_2.mp3 exsul
(NW NSW)
Territorial call © MD
wstgery_20191027.m4a exsul
(NW NSW)
Territorial call © MD
wstgery_20150813.mp3 exsul
(NW NSW)
Territorial call © MD
wstgery_20160817.mp3 exsul
(NW NSW)
Territorial call © MD
wstgery_20151107_2.mp3 exsul
(NW NSW)
Feeding calls? © MD
wstgery_20210116.m4a exsul
(NW NSW)
Nestling begging + parents' response + feeding © MD
wstgery_20210312.m4a exsul
(NW NSW)
Immature practising © MD
wstgery_20150808.mp3 exsul
(NW NSW)
? © MD
wstgery_20141023.mp3 exsul
(NW NSW)
? (Immature?) © MD

More Western Gerygone 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.