Speckled Warbler

1. Heavily streaked grey-brown back and cream underparts

2. Black (male) or rufous (female) eyebrow stripe

3. Dark bill and prominent pale face

These birds forage mainly on the ground, feeding on insects such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, as well as some seeds. They are often seen in pairs or trios, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season. Breeding occurs mostly from August to January, peaking between September and November. Nests are dome-shaped with a side entrance, hidden in grass tussocks or dense litter. Females lay 2–4 reddish-chocolate eggs per clutch and incubate them alone for about 17 days; the primary male assists in feeding the chicks, which remain in the nest for around 19 days. Nests may be parasitised by cuckoos.

Speckled Warblers inhabit open eucalypt woodlands and dry forests from southeast Queensland through New South Wales to central Victoria, especially along the Great Dividing Range. They prefer areas with a grassy understorey, scattered shrubs, rocky ridges, or gullies, and are rarely seen far from dense cover. They are most often found in regions with complex ground layers and fallen timber, and are less common in coastal or heavily cleared areas.