About the Brown Thornbill
The brown thornbill is a passerine bird usually found in eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It can grow up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long, and feeds on insects. It is brown, grey and white. The species has five subspecies.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The brown thornbill is warm brown to olive-brown above, with flanks of olive-buff to yellowish white. It has buff scallops on the forehead and large dark red eyes. There are blackish streaks on a grey throat and breast, a tawny rump and tail base, and a black subterminal band with paler tips on the tail. The brown thornbill ranges in size from 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in), making it relatively small. It typically weighs 7 g (0.25 oz). Voice: Brown thornbills are skilled mimics and also respond to humans imitating their calls. The calls have been described as "rich, musical warble". Their calls vary from a mellow baritone pee-orr, high whistles with rapid cascading trills, to many squeaks and churrs.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Brown Thornbill sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Yellow-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza chrysorrhoaThe yellow-rumped thornbill is the largest species of thornbill, 9.5–12 cm (3.7–4.7 in) long and weighing 9 g (0.32 oz).
Striated ThornbillAcanthiza lineataThe adult striated thornbill is 9–10 centimetres (3.5–3.9 in) long and weighs around 7 grams (0.25 oz).
Yellow ThornbillAcanthiza nanaAlthough similar to the striated thornbill and brown thornbill in both size and shape, the yellow colour of the yellow thornbill is more prominent.
Side by side: Brown Thornbill vs Yellow-rumped Thornbill · Brown Thornbill vs Striated Thornbill · Brown Thornbill vs Yellow Thornbill
Learn the Brown Thornbill for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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