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Natural habitat of Fairy Gerygone
Fairy Gerygone, a Native Fairly Common bird in Australia
Distribution map showing where Fairy Gerygone can be found in Australia
Distribution Map

Fairy Gerygone

Gerygone palpebrosa

NativeStatus
Fairly CommonRarity
Image of Fairy Gerygone
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Species Description

The Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa), also known as the fairy warbler, is a small and energetic songbird found in Australia’s northeast and New Guinea. It is a member of the is known for its lively foraging and soft, melodious calls.

Fun Facts

Male Fairy Gerygones will often sing in an upright posture when they hear predator calls, a behaviour thought to demonstrate their fitness.

1. Male has a black throat and chest.

2. Both sexes have olive upperparts, yellow underparts, and red eyes.

3. Subspecies flavida has a white tip on the tail, unlike personata.

These birds are insectivores, feeding mainly by picking insects from leaves and bark or occasionally catching them in flight. Fairy Gerygones are known for building dome-shaped nests with a hooded entrance, often placed near wasp nests, which may provide protection from predators. Males sometimes sing loudly in response to predator calls, possibly as a display to attract mates or deter threats. Breeding occurs from July to May, with females laying two white eggs marked with purplish-red spots.

Fairy Gerygones inhabit the edges of tropical and subtropical forests, mangroves, and riverine woodlands in northeastern Queensland, Australia, and New Guinea. They are most often seen in the foliage of trees and shrubs along forest edges or near watercourses, especially in the early morning. Their range has expanded southward in recent decades, likely due to changing climate conditions, and they can now be found as far south as the Brisbane region.

Physical Attributes

Height

11 cm

Size Relative to Other Birds4%

Top Locations

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Top birding locations will be available in a future update.