Chestnut-rumped Thornbill

1. Rich chestnut rump stands out against pale grey-brown body

2. Pale, almost white eye in adults

3. Whitish underparts with plain, unstreaked appearance

These thornbills are mainly insectivorous, foraging by gleaning from leaves, twigs, and the ground, and sometimes probing into bark. They are gregarious, usually seen in small groups. Breeding occurs from June to December, with pairs or occasionally cooperative groups building small, domed nests in tree hollows, stumps, or fence posts. Females lay 2–4 eggs per clutch, with both parents sharing incubation and care of the young. The fledging period is around 18–2 days, and up to two or three broods may be raised in a season.

Chestnut-rumped Thornbills are widespread across inland Australia, from southern Queensland and New South Wales westward to Western Australia, and south into Victoria and South Australia. They are absent from the far north and humid southwest. Look for them in dry woodlands, mallee, mulga, and shrublands, often in small, chatty flocks foraging in low vegetation or on the ground. They are most active during cooler parts of the day and frequently join mixed-species feeding groups