Scrubtit

The scrubtit is a species of bird in the thornbill family Acanthizidae. It is endemic to Tasmania and King Island in Australia. Its natural habitat is the temperate rainforest, Nothofagus beech forest and eucalypt woodland. It is a small species that resembles the Sericornis scrubwrens.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Tasmania and Bass Strait islands (Australia)

Typical Environment

Occurs in temperate rainforest, Nothofagus beech forest, wet eucalypt forest, and dense eucalypt woodland with thick understory. It favors sheltered gullies, tree-fern groves, and riparian scrub with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs. The species is highly dependent on dense ground and midstory cover, rarely venturing into open habitats. On King Island it persists in remnant wet forest and scrub patches. It is largely sedentary within suitable habitat throughout the year.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1200 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size11–13 cm

Wing Span17–20 cm

Male Weight0.012 kg

Female Weight0.011 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Scrubtit is the sole member of its genus and is confined to Tasmania and nearby King Island. It keeps to dense undergrowth, making it more often heard than seen. It builds a domed, mossy nest low in vegetation, and pairs tend to remain on territories year-round. While the species is generally secure, the tiny King Island subspecies is of high conservation concern locally.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

skulking and secretive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground

Social Behavior

Usually found singly, in pairs, or small family groups within dense understory. Pairs hold territories year-round and build domed nests of moss, bark strips, and fibers low in shrubs or tree-ferns. May occasionally join mixed-species flocks with other small insectivores in cooler months.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Song consists of thin, high-pitched trills and tinkling notes delivered from concealed perches. Calls include soft contact chips and scolding rattles when disturbed.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Secretarybird

The secretarybird or secretary bird is a large bird of prey that is endemic to Africa. It is mostly terrestrial, spending most of its time on the ground, and is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region. John Frederick Miller described the species in 1779. A member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, and harriers, it is placed in its own family, the Sagittariidae.

Sedge warbler

The sedge warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa. The male's song is composed of random chattering phrases and can include mimicry of other species. The sedge warbler is mostly insectivorous.

Sedge wren

The sedge wren is a small and secretive passerine bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is widely distributed in North America. It is often found in wet grasslands and meadows where it nests in the tall grasses and sedges and feeds on insects. The sedge wren was formerly considered as conspecific with the non-migratory grass wren of central and South America.

Selayar whistler

The Selayar whistler is a species of songbird in the family Pachycephalidae. Described by the Swiss zoologist Johann Büttikofer in 1878, it is endemic to the Indonesian island of Selayar, off the southwestern coast of Sulawesi. After its initial description, it was long considered a subspecies of the golden whistler and later the rusty-breasted whistler, before being raised to species status again in 2016. Selayar whistlers are around 16–17 cm (6.3–6.7 in) in length. Adult males have grey heads, white throats, olive-green upperparts, pinkish underparts, and brownish-olive tail and wing feathers. Adult females are largely similar to males, but have dark ochre lores and rufous ear-coverts. The similar appearances of the sexes in this species helps differentiate it from the rusty-breasted whistler; in that species, males have black-and-yellow plumage, contrasting with the female's olive-brown colouration.