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Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) Alternate name(s): "Crested Shrike-tit", "Barktit", "Yellow-hammer", "Frontal Shriketit", "Falcon-shrike" Size: 15-19 cm Body mass: 22-33 g

Australia: Family Group 20 Family Group 20 Table Eastern Whipbird Chirruping Wedgebill Chiming Wedgebill Spotted Quail-thrush Cinnamon Quail-thrush Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush Varied Sittella Crested Bellbird Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit Northern (Crested) Shrike-tit Grey Whistler Olive Whistler Golden Whistler Western Whistler Mangrove Golden Whistler White-breasted Whistler Rufous Whistler Gilbert's Whistler Rufous Shrike-thrush Arafura Shrike-thrush (Little Shrike-thrush) Bower's Shrike-thrush Sandstone Shrike-thrush Grey Shrike-thrush 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 Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits are bushland birds with a dimorphic plumage, i.e. males and females are slightly different. Both sexes have a have a prominent black eye stripe, chin and forehead, with a black longitudinal stripe along the crest, while the rest of the head, including small patches on the frons, is plain-white. The front, from the chest to the undertail coverts, is bright-yellow. The mantle is olive; wings and tail are dark-grey, with lighter edge-lining. The only difference between the sexes is that males have a black throat, while the throat of females is olive. The eyes of both sexes have brown irises. The short, heavy bill is dark-grey. Legs and feet are also dark-grey. Juveniles have a more brownish back and a pale throat patch.

Taxonomy, classification See Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information The three types of Shrike-tit found in Australia were formerly considered to be different races of one species ("Crested Shrike-tit"). Now all three have been given species status. Since we have so far not seen Western Crested Shrike-tits (Falcunculus leucogaster), there is no page describing these yet.

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 Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit is available HERE . Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits are endemic to Australia. They are found primarily along the Great Dividing Range in the South-East of Australia, but also further inland. Their range extends along the coastline and the ranges from the south-eastern tip of SA through VIC (with the exception of a small area just to the South of Ballarat), NSW and QLD, to Yeppoon, QLD, in the North. Beyond the tropic of Capricorn they are not found on the coastal fringe, but only in the tablelands up to about Atherton, QLD. In addition, they are found along some of the creeks and rivers of the Murray Darling Basin, such as the Cuttaburra and Burrawantie Creeks and all along the Darling River and the Murray River. Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits live in various types of forest and woodland, from rainforest to open woodland, but also in eucalypts along watercourses. Where to look? How to find this species? Since their calls are soft and unobtrusive, the best way to locate an Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit is to listen for the sound of breaking tree bark. In many cases an Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit may be the culprit, foraging for prey.

Sightings Click here for sighting information An Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit was first spotted by us in April 2006, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW - if it had not been for the characteristic sound of tearing bark, we would have missed noticing a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit high up in a eucalypt tree. Since then we see Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits semi-regularly in the Narrabri area, e.g. on the southern edge of the Pilliga scrub, 30 km North of Coonabarabran, NSW, and in Deriah Aboriginal Area, in the foothills of the Nandewar Range, 30 km East of Narrabri. Here the calls of a male marking its territory were heard. Since then we find them there semi-regularly. They have also been seen by us repeatedly in various locations in Mt. Kaputar NP. V. Collins found an Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit near Narrabri, NSW, in February 2021. In November 2006 also seen on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range, at Dorrigo NP, northern NSW. R. Plumtree reports spotting Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits occasionally in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, e.g. along Sandy Creek Road in March 2014 and along the Ensay to Doctors Flat Road in February 2019 and again in July 2019. E. Scott reports spotting Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits occasionally at Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW. M. Eaton found Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits at O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, in January 2020. Another was found at Girraween NP, QLD, in November 2024.

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Frontal portrait of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2019]

Close-up frontal view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit; note the black "bib"
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2024]

Close-up frontal portrait of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit looking sideways
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2024]

Near-frontal view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Girraween NP, QLD, November 2024]

Near-frontal view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit; note the extreme rotation of the head
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2019]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2024]

Lateral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Toonumbar State Forest, northern NSW, June 2017]

Lateral portrait of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2019]

Lateral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Girraween NP, QLD, November 2024]

Lateral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit searching for prey
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, July 2013]

Dorsal view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, July 2013]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit; note the olive-brown "bib", as opposed to the males' black one
(photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, December 2016]

Lateral view of a female Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit foraging through the bark of a eucalypt
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a female Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, June 2012]

Dorsal view of a female Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit; the sex was determined from photos taken at different angles
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, June 2012]

Ventral view of a female Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, June 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral/ventral view of two male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits together; one, although in adult plumage, was begging to be fed, so probably still dependent
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

Full-frontal view of a juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, February 2021]

Frontal view of a juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit looking sideways (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2019]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit begging for food, with erected crest, fluttering wings and bobbing tail; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 31 January 2018
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit; this bird was seen together with a foraging female, but was not being fed although begging incessantly; it was probably being "weaned" and is seen here foraging for insects itself
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit; this bird was seen together with a foraging female, but was not being fed although begging incessantly; it was probably being "weaned" and is seen here foraging for insects itself
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, February 2021]

Ventral view of a juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit - note the incomplete "bib"; this bird was seen together with a foraging female, but was not being fed although begging incessantly; it was probably being "weaned" and was seen foraging for insects itself
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 15 - 16 days

Fledging age: 14 - 17 days

Nest building: ?

Incubation: (Mainly) female

Dependent care: Male & female

The male will feed the female on the nest while incubating.

Nest

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

Type: Basket

Material: Grass, bark fibre, webs

Height above ground: 6 - 30 m

Nests may be further camouflaged/decorated with lichen and or spiders' egg sacs.

Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit nest at the very top of the crown of a live eucalypt
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2021]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit with its prey, a grub or caterpillar
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2021]

Ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit bringing its prey, a grub or caterpillar, up towards its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2021]

Frontal/ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit delivering its prey, a grub or caterpillar, to its nest, presumably to its incubating partner
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2021]

Eggs

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

Size: 24 x 15 mm

Colour: White, with grey/black speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair/family clan

Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits are known for their habit of foraging under treebark. Their powerful bills allow them to rip off pieces, the sound of which can be heard over long distances.

Ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit prying loose the end of an old piece of bark
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

Frontal/ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit apparently tapping the piece of bark, possibly to check for sounds of whatever may be hidden underneath
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

Frontal/ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit now tearing open the bark and pulling out what looks like a spider in its web
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

Frontal view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit looking for prey
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2024]

Ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit repeatedly fanning its tail while issuing its contact calls
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2021]

Food, Diet

Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tits forage under tree bark, often by tearing off pieces for spiders, insects and other small animals. We have also seen them take psyllids.

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit with its prey, a grub or caterpillar
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2021]

Ventral view of a male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit with its prey, a spider
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2021]

Male Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit bringing a meal for its dependent young (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2019]

Juvenile Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit receiving a meal from an adult male (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, February 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.

crshtit_20210711_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
crshtit_20210919.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
crshtit_20170126.m4a	(S QLD)	Contact calls?	© MD
crshtit_20170126_2.m4a	(S QLD)	Contact calls?	© MD
crshtit_20210919_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Warning calls? (with prey in bill)	© MD
crshtit_20210922.m4a	(NW NSW)	Feeding calls (with prey in bill)	© MD
crshtit_20180131.m4a	(NW NSW)	Begging juvenile	© MD
crshtit_20140124_3.mp3	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD
crshtit_20140124_4.mp3	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD
crshtit_20210917.m4a	(NW NSW)	?	© MD

More Eastern Shrike-tit 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.

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