Brown Thornbill

1. Bright red eye set in a pale grey-brown face

2. Rufous-brown forehead and tawny rump patch

3. Fine dark streaking on off-white throat and breast

Brown Thornbills feed mainly on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates, but may also take seeds, fruit, and nectar. They are usually seen in pairs or small family groups and form lifelong pair bonds, defending territories year-round. They breed from july-january and the domed nest, built by the female, is placed low in dense vegetation and constructed from grasses, bark, moss, and spider webs, with a hooded entrance. The typical clutch is three eggs, and both parents help incubate for about 19 days and care for the young, which fledge after around 16 days. They may raise two broods per year.

Brown Thornbills are found within about 3 km of the Australian east and southeast coasts, including the Blue Mountains, the Great Dividing Range, Tasmania, and King Island. They inhabit forests, rainforests, woodlands, heathlands, shrublands, and dense undergrowth along rivers and creeks. Look for them in the lower shrub layers and understorey, where they forage actively, often in small groups or mixed flocks.