Western Shrike-tit

1. Bold black and white head pattern with a broad white belly stripe

2. Males have a black throat; females have an olive-green throat

3. Yellow mid-breast contrasts with clean white lower breast and flanks

Western Shrike-tits feed mainly on insects and spiders, sometimes taking seeds. They forage by gleaning and hang-gleaning from foliage and bark, using their strong bills and occasionally twigs as tools to probe for prey. Breeding occurs from October, with eggs found in early November. Nests are deep cups woven from grass and bark strips, lined with fine material and spider web, and placed high in a eucalypt fork. Both parents share incubation and rearing duties. The typical clutch size is 2-3 eggs, and both sexes incubate the eggs and feed the young.

Western Shrike-tits are found in the subcanopy and canopy of smooth-barked eucalyptus forests and woodlands in southwestern Western Australia, especially in karri, wandoo, salmon gum, and flooded gum habitats. They are typically seen in pairs or small groups, most often in lowland areas below 4 meters elevation. Listen for their loud, rising two-part whistle or the sound of bark being stripped from tree trunks.