Rockwarbler Rockwarbler

1. Flicks tail side-to-side while hopping over rocks

2. Dull white, mottled throat contrasts with rufous-brown underparts

3. Tail held downward, not cocked, and square-ended

Rockwarblers mainly eat insects, foraging on the ground and among rocks, probing crevices and ledges with agilityeven moving up vertical rock faces. They will also take seeds and occasionally accept food scraps at picnic sites. The breeding season is from August to January, with pairs building distinctive dome-shaped nests with side entrances, usually in caves or rock crevices in near-total darkness. The nests are made from roots, moss, grass, and bark, bound with spider webs, and lined with soft materials. Females lay 2-3 white eggs. Rockwarblers are mostly sedentary and may live alone, in pairs, or in small family groups. Their specialised habitat makes them vulnerable to habitat loss and changes due to urban development and fire.

Rockwarblers are strictly limited to rocky habitats in southern and central New South Wales, especially the Sydney Basin. They are found in sclerophyll forests, woodlands, and heathlands with exposed sandstone, limestone, or granite, often near water. Look for them in rocky gullies, ravines, outcrops, and escarpments in places like Royal National Park, Blue Mountains National Park, and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. They are most active at dawn and early morning. Their calls include a shrill, plaintive “chis-sick” and a repeated “plik” note.