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White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor [sueurii]) Alternate name(s): "White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater", "Peewee-lark" Aboriginal name(s): "koomolkolong" (WA) Size: 15.5-19 cm; wing span: 28-31 cm Body mass: 25-32 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.13-0.16

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Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-winged Trillers are small bushland birds. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. In addition, males have different breeding and eclipse plumages. During the breeding season, male White-winged Trillers are entirely black-and-white. They have a black top of the head, nape of the neck and mantle. The wings are also black, with wide white shoulder bars and white edge lining. The rump is grey, the tail is black, with a white tip. The entire front, from the lower sides of the head and the throat to the undertail coverts, is all-white. In eclipse, the formerly black parts of male White-winged Trillers (crown, nape of the neck, mantle, wing bars) turn brownish-grey. The sides of the head turn whitish, except for narrow black lores and eye-stripes. Female White-winged Trillers are much more inconspicuous than males. Although their plumage has roughly the same morphology as males in eclipse, their colours are much duller. They are greyish-brown throughout, except for a more greyish throat patch and off-white belly, vent and undertail coverts and darker brown eye-stripes compared to the rest of the face. The flight feathers and the tail are darker brownish-grey than the rest of their plumage. Only the rump is light-grey in both sexes. Immature White-winged Trillers resemble females.

Taxonomy, classification See White-winged Triller 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 White-winged Triller is available HERE . White-winged Trillers used to be endemic to Australia, but have in recent times also been reported from southern New Guinea. In Australia they populate almost the entire continent. They are found only rarely at the tip of Cape York peninsula and in the most arid parts the country (the major deserts in the eastern half of WA and South of the Kimberley). During the breeding season they are found only in the western half of WA, in the Kimberley and the Top End of the NT, plus the south-eastern quarter of the continent. White-winged Trillers can live in various types of habitat, from closed forest to open plains with scattered trees, including farmland with scattered trees. Where to look? How to find this species? During the breeding season, White-winged Trillers are easy to find because the males hardly ever stop calling. For the rest of the year, finding them can be more challenging, also because their plumage is in eclipse. Most likely they can be found hunting for insects a few meters off the ground, in shrubs or small trees (often Cypress pines).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Although we know that they were around for an extended period of time, we saw White-winged Trillers only rarely 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, in 2003-2006. During the same period, we also occasionally found them 20 km West of Narrabri. Next we spotted White-winged Trillers in September 2007, at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri. Since then we see them semi-regularly, e.g. in Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30 km East of Narrabri, on the western fringes of Mt. Kaputar NP. Since then they are seen by us in north-western inland NSW annually. A single White-winged Triller was spotted by us in the Flinders Ranges, SA, in March 2008. R. Plumtree reports spotting White-winged Trillers at Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, semi-regularly. Various contributors report spotting White-winged Trillers in different locations in and around Darwin, NT, throughout the year. J. Greaves reports spotting a male White-winged Triller at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. M. Mearns reports spotting White-winged Trillers at Diamantina NP, QLD, in August 2019. M. Eaton reports finding White-winged Trillers at Lake Samsonvale, QLD, in December 2019 and at Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, in October 2021. C. Pears found a White-winged Triller in Broome, WA, in June 2025.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Pair of White-winged Trillers foraging on the ground in a paddock; the male, in breeding plumage, is seen at the lower left
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, October 2006]

MALE

BREEDING

Close-up frontal view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2023]

Close-up frontal view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2023]

Frontal view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage marking its territory
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2016]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Triller in near-breeding plumage looking towards the observer while hunting for insects
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage marking its territory
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a male White-winged Triller moulting into breeding plumage looking at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]

Close-up lateral view of a male White-winged Triller moulting into breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]

Close-up lateral view of a male White-winged Triller in near-breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Triller in near-breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage in grassland (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]

Dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2008]

Distant near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller in breeding plumage in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male White-winged Triller in transitional plumage; as seen from this angle, nothing distinguishes it from full breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Close-up frontal view of a male White-winged Triller in transitional plumage looking sideways; the leading edges of the wings are already black, but the head has not moulted yet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Triller in transitional plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Triller moulting into breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Near-frontal view of a male White-winged Triller in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller in transitory (mostly non-breeding) plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller in transitory (mostly non-breeding) plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2017]

Dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller in transitory (mostly non-breeding) plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller in non-breeding plumage (photo P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, off Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Triller in non-breeding plumage taking off (photo P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong Road, off Arnhem Highway, NT, July 2018]

FEMALE

Close-up frontal portrait of a female White-winged Triller
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Frontal view of a female White-winged Triller
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a female White-winged Triller looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female White-winged Triller looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Close-up near-lateral portrait of a female White-winged Triller feeding in a Cypress pine
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Close-up lateral view of a female White-winged Triller on a dry cow pad
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a female White-winged Triller
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Lateral view of a female White-winged Triller carrying food for its chick; note the barring on flank and shoulder
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a female White-winged Triller foraging in an Acacia salicina
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a female White-winged Triller looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2023]

Dorsal view of a female White-winged Triller looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2023]

Dorsal view of a female White-winged Triller
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of an immature male White-winged Triller looking sideways; note the dark cap and the absence of a visible supercilium
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Lateral view of an immature male White-winged Triller (photo taken through a fence); note the dark cap and the absence of a visible supercilium
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Near-frontal view of an immature female White-winged Triller (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2020]

Near-frontal view of a preening immature female White-winged Triller (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2020]

Near-frontal view of an immature female White-winged Triller (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2020]

Lateral view of an immature female White-winged Triller (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2020]

Lateral view of an immature female White-winged Triller feeding on the ground (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2020]

Frontal view of a juvenile White-winged Triller
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2025]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a juvenile White-winged Triller
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile White-winged Triller looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile White-winged Triller (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile White-winged Triller
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2007]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile White-winged Triller
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2007]

Two juvenile White-winged Trillers waiting to be fed (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Merriwindi SCA, near Kenebri, NSW, January 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Feb

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 14 days

Fledging age: 13 - 15 days

The breeding season of White-winged Trillers depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical North they may breed at the end of the wet season. But in inland Australia, given the right conditions, White-winged Trillers can breed any time of the year.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

We had noticed in earlier breeding seasons that, at some point, all activity by male White-winged Trillers appeared to cease and the birds had left the area where they had started to build nests and breed. In the 2021/22 season we noticed again the departure of all male White-winged Trillers round about the middle of November. But on 22 November, by accident, a female was found with prey in its bill, issuing warning calls. This bird was then found to be bringing food to its nestling chicks. We had previously observed that males participate in the incubation process (see photo/s below). Bell (1965 Communal Nesting by White-winged Triller. Emu 65, 133-138) notes that male White-winged Trillers are attentive in caring for their young. However, in line with our own observations, Immelmann (1966 Notes on the Breeding Biology of the White-winged Triller Lalage seuurii tricolor Swainson in North-western Australia. Emu 66, 1-15) notes that males may depart ca. 8 days after the chicks hatch, possibly to start claiming a new territory for breeding a second time, while the females stay behind to feed the nestlings and to feed them for about 7 more days after fledging.

Nest

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

Type: Basket

Material: Grass, rootlets, webs

Height above ground: 2 - 10 m

White-winged Triller nests found by us are different compared to what is described in field guides in several respects: They are not always placed on a fork, they are not always as shallow as reported in field guides, and they can be well-hidden in dense foliage, rather than in the open on a fork of a dead branch.

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a female White-winged Triller bringing food for its two chicks, in this case a spider - following this bird we found its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Overview of the location of a White-winged Triller nest in a young ironbark eucalypt
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Close-up view of a White-winged Triller nest the day after the last chick fledged
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

White-winged Triller chick in its nest, the day before fledging
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

White-winged Triller chick resting on the edge of its nest, the day before fledging
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Two White-winged Triller chicks in their nest, begging to be fed by the female (mostly hidden behind a branch)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Female White-winged Triller feeding one of its two chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

White-winged Triller hatchling in its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Male White-winged Triller on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Female White-winged Triller on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Female White-winged Triller working on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Male White-winged Triller on its nest in an Acacia salicina; the female is ready to take over incubating duties
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2021]

Close-up view from below of a White-winged Triller nest in a rough-barked Acacia salicina; this nest was constructed under the "umbrella" of a Magpie-lark nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Female White-winged Triller working on its well-hidden nest, with the male in attendance
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Male White-winged Triller helping with the construction of the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Male White-winged Triller looking for (left) and "harvesting" (right) a spider's web for use in binding its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Eggs

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

Size: 21 x 15 mm

Colour: Light-brown, with many large dark-brown patches

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair/mob

White-winged Trillers are semi-colonial breeders, each pair claiming a territory for nesting and foraging that partly overlaps with those of its close neighbours. While from the outset chores are shared between male and female, at some point, while the female is still feeding the brood, the male usually takes off to breed again elsewhere, with a different female.

In the northern (tropical) parts of Australia, parts of the White-winged Triller population remain and are sedentary. Others are breeding migrants to the southern parts of the continent.

Male White-winged Trillers use vantage points to issue their calls so as to be heard from afar. Obviously, they cannot do this all day long, but need to feed in the meantime. But even while feeding they still intersperse periods of singing, see photos below.

Close-up lateral view of a White-winged Triller singing from a high vantage point; this perch was used only to be heard
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Frontal view of the same White-winged Triller as above, now foraging for insects in a Cypress pine, but also putting in some more effort into attracting a female
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Frontal view of a male White-winged Triller spreading its wings while taking a shower
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Triller having a shower under a garden sprinkler, raising feathers on its back
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]

Food, Diet

White-winged Trillers usually hunt for insects that they will take from foliage or from the ground.

Female White-winged Triller with a grasshopper for breakfast (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a female White-winged Triller with its prey, a small larva
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2015]

Lateral/ventral view of a female White-winged Triller with its prey, a grasshopper
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2018]

Male White-winged Triller feeding on nectar (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Berriwillock, VIC, October 2019]

Female White-winged Triller feeding on nectar (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Berriwillock, VIC, October 2019]

White-winged Triller taking nectar from a flower... (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

... and feeling quite possessive about it (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Close-up frontal view of a female White-winged Triller looking sideways in a flowering Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Triller that appears to be taking nectar from a flowering Grevillea robusta, rather than insects visiting the flowers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2018]

Two White-winged Trillers with their caps covered in pollen (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Oolloo Road, Daly River region, NT, August 2021]

Male White-winged Triller drinking water by taking droplets from grass
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]

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.

wwtrill_20161026_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Territorial call (male)	© MD
wwtrill_pb_20181117.m4a	(Inland NT)	Territorial call (male)	© PB
wwtrill_20161026_4.m4a	(NW NSW)	Territorial calls (male)	© MD
wwtrill_20161026_3.m4a	(NW NSW)	Territorial calls (male)	© MD
wwtrill_20161026.mp3	(NW NSW)	Territorial calls (male) (long sequence)	© MD
wwtrill_20211122.m4a	(NW NSW)	Female warning nestlings	© MD
wwtrill_20211122_5.m4a	(NW NSW)	Begging call (nestling)	© MD
wwtrill_20211122_3.m4a	(NW NSW)	2 nestlings begging & being fed	© MD
wwtrill_20211122_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	? (nestling)	© MD

More White-winged Triller 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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