Varied Triller

1. White eyebrow stripe and two bold white wing-bars on a dark head

2. Pale orange or rufous undertail coverts

3. Males are glossy black above; females are browner and more muted

Varied Trillers feed mainly on insects such as caterpillars and grasshoppers, as well as fruit like figs and berries. They forage methodically through foliage and sometimes join mixed flocks at fruiting trees. Breeding occurs from September to March, with pairs building small, shallow cup nests bound with spider web on thin branches. They usually lay a single egg per clutch, and both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.

Varied Trillers inhabit tropical and subtropical rainforests, vine forests, mangroves, riverine thickets, and dense eucalypt forests, as well as parks and gardens in some areas. They are most often seen in the canopy or middle layers of forests, foraging in pairs or small groups. Their range extends from the Sydney area up the eastern coast to Cape York Peninsula, across the Top End, and into the moister parts of the Kimberley.