17

Western Gerygone

(Gerygone fusca)
Size: 10-11 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Three are three races of Western Gerygones. Race "exsul" is found in the interior of QLD and NSW and central VIC, off the coastline, in the Great Dividing Range and the semi-arid interior (except the catchment of the tributaries to Lake Eyre). Throughout most of the NT, except its top end, just south of the Kimberleys and further into inland north-western WA race "richmondi" is found. In its western extremity its range overlaps with that of nominate race "mouki", which populates the entire western two-thirds of WA. Race "mouki" is also found on Eyre peninsula in SA.

Western Gerygones can usually be found in open woodland, in particular in mallee.

Sightings

We are quite sure that we have seen Western Gerygones 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, in 2005-2006. Heard, but not seen again until August 2010, when a first photo was obtained 20 km east of Narrabri (see below).

Photos

Frontal view of a Western Gerygone

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.