Slender-billed thornbill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slender-billed thornbill |
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| Conservation status | |
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Acanthiza
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| Species: |
iredalei
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The slender-billed thornbill (Acanthiza iredalei) is a small bird that lives in Australia. It's known for its thin beak, which helps it find food. This bird has three different types, called subspecies:
- A. i. hedleyi
- A. i. iredalei
- A. i. rosinae
These tiny birds live in special places like shrublands and salt marshes. You can often find them near salt lakes or in low heath areas on sandy ground. They mostly eat insects and spiders, which they catch in the shrubs. They usually stay up in the bushes and trees, rarely looking for food on the ground.
Slender-billed thornbills are social birds. They are usually seen in groups of about eight birds or in pairs. They build small nests in low shrubs. These nests are made from grass, bark, spiderwebs, and other bits of plants from their home. Female thornbills lay up to three eggs. The time when they lay eggs, called the breeding season, is from July to November.
Contents
About the Slender-billed Thornbill
This thornbill is a small bird, usually about 9 to 10 centimeters long. Its back can be olive-grey or a darker olive-brown. The part of its tail closest to its body is olive-yellow. Its belly is a smooth cream color. It has a dark beak and light-colored eyes.
Where Slender-billed Thornbills Live
The iredalei subspecies of the slender-billed thornbill lives in several separate groups in Western Australia. There is also a large group in the Carnarvon area. The hedleyi subspecies can be found across eastern Australia. The rosinae subspecies lives in southern Australia.
Protecting Slender-billed Thornbills
Overall Status
Some types of the slender-billed thornbill need special protection. The rosinae subspecies, which is often found near Gulf St Vincent, is considered vulnerable. This means it could be at risk if its habitat changes. The hedleyi subspecies, found in eastern Australia, is considered near threatened. The iredalei subspecies is also vulnerable.
Sadly, the iredalei subspecies of the thornbill is no longer found in northern Australia. It is the only native bird species that has disappeared from that area since Europeans arrived.
In Victoria, Australia
- The slender-billed thornbill (A. i. hedleyi) is listed as threatened in Victoria. This means it is protected by a special law called the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of 1988.
- In 2007, this bird was listed as near threatened on an official list of animals at risk in Victoria.
See also
In Spanish: Acantiza de Iredale para niños
