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Yellow Thornbill

(Acanthiza nana)
Alternative names: "Little Thornbill", "Little Tit"
Size: 9-10 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

The range of Yellow (Little) Thornbills is restricted to the east and south-east of the Australian continent. Race "flava" is found in the Atherton Tablelands, QLD. Further to the south, in an area about half the east-west width of NSW ranging from central QLD to the south-east coast of VIC, race "alberti" is found (with the exception of the southern Alps). In an area eastward of a line connecting Brisbane, QLD, and Canberra, ACT, nominate race "nana" is found. In years with good inland rainfall race "alberti" can disperse further into the interior, adding the catchment of the Paroo River to its range.

Yellow (Little) Thornbills can be found in various types of dry forest, dominated by cypress pine, eucalypts or acacias.

Sightings

We knew the call of Yellow Thornbills long before we ever caught a glimpse of them or even took a photo. They are furtive little birds that remain in the trees, mostly in shady areas.

Seen by us in various locations around Narrabri, NSW, often foraging in trees together with other thornbills (Inland Thornbills and Brown Thornbills) in May 2008. Most of the photos shown below were taken 20 km east of Narrabri, NSW. Seen there again in April 2011.

Photos

"Head-on" Yellow Thornbill

Here one that is in fact air-borne

This bird is seen picking insects off the underside of leaves

Near-frontal view of a Yellow Thornbill

Lateral view of a bird hunting for small insects in an Acacia Salicina

It is not after the flower's nectar, but after what is feeding on the nectar

Here a close-up near-lateral view

Yellow Thornbill seen from behind

Yellow Thornbill hanging on the end of a twig seen from beneath

Here a different perspective

This photo shows the bright-yellow plumage that is normally hidden under the wing

Yellow Thornbill jumping out of the bathtub (click on image to see the bird drying its plumage in the sun)

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial?/ roaming? Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Family clan

We have repeatedly seen Yellow Thornbills moving around with a group also including Brown Thornbills.

Food

To the best of our knowledge all Thornbills feed on little insects that they pick off leaves. As shown in the photo below, this is at least true for Yellow Thornbills.

This bird has caught a little insect