The white-throated gerygone is a species of bird in the family Acanthizidae. It is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Its common names include white-throated warbler, white-throated flyeater, bush canary, and native canary.
Region
Australia and southern New Guinea
Typical Environment
Occurs across eastern and northern Australia from Cape York through Queensland and New South Wales to Victoria, with outliers in the Top End and Kimberley, and in southern New Guinea. It inhabits open eucalypt woodlands, riparian forests, monsoon forests, and edges of subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests. It also uses coastal heaths, lightly timbered farmland, and well-vegetated urban parks. In New Guinea it is found mainly in lowland forests and savanna mosaics.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny, active insect-hunter, the white-throated gerygone is famed for its sweet, descending, canary-like song—hence nicknames like bush canary and native canary. It builds a delicate, pear-shaped hanging nest with a side entrance, suspended from fine branchlets. Though called a flyeater, it both hawks insects in short sallies and gleans them from foliage. Some populations are partially migratory within Australia.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick, fluttering sallies
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or as part of mixed-species foraging flocks in the canopy and mid-story. Pairs form during breeding season and defend small territories. The nest is a delicate, pendant, pear-shaped structure made of plant fibers, spider silk, and bark strips, with a side entrance. Clutch size is small, and both parents assist in rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Song is a sweet, fluty, descending series of notes, musical and far-carrying, often delivered from exposed perches. Calls include thin cheeps and soft trills given during foraging and contact.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a clean white throat and upper breast grading to bright yellow underparts; fine, silky body feathers with a neat appearance. Tail is dark with white outer edges/tips and often flicked. Subtle pale eyebrow and darker lores give a masked look.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small insects and other arthropods, including flies, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. Gleans prey from leaves and fine branchlets and hovers to pick items from foliage. Also performs short aerial sallies to snatch flying insects. Frequently targets lerps and other sugary insect secretions on eucalypt leaves.
Preferred Environment
Forages high in the canopy and mid-story of eucalypt woodlands, forest edges, and riparian corridors. Will also use parks, gardens, and shelterbelts with scattered trees and shrubs.
