Western Gerygone

1. Large white patches at the base of the outer tail feathers with a black band and white tips.

2. Plain brownish-grey upperparts and whitish underparts.

3. Persistent, clear, high-pitched, melodic song.

This bird is primarily insectivorous, gleaning insects from foliage and sometimes hovering or making short aerial sallies. It is often observed joining mixed-species feeding flocks. The Western Gerygone builds a long, oval-shaped, hanging nest with a hooded entrance, suspended from tree branches. Both parents contribute to nest building and feeding the young. Breeding occurs mainly from August to March, with males performing fluttering displays as part of courtship. The species is generally sedentary or nomadic depending on the region, and populations in the southwest may migrate seasonally. Habitat loss and fragmentation pose threats, but the species remains common across much of its range.

Western Gerygones are found throughout inland and southwestern Australia, occupying dry eucalypt forests, woodlands, acacia shrublands, and along watercourses. They are typically seen foraging alone or in pairs in the mid to upper canopy, often below 85 meters in elevation. The species is also present on Rottnest and Garden Islands near Perth, having colonized Rottnest in the 195s.