Slaty-backed Thornbill
Acanthiza robustirostris
Slaty-backed Thornbill (Acanthiza robustirostris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Slaty-backed Thornbill (Acanthiza robustirostris) is a member of the Acanthizidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 6.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Acanthizidae Australasian Warblers
- Genus Acanthiza
- Species robustirostris
Where it lives
Southern WA to southwestern QLD (west-central to east-central Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Slaty-backed Thornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Slaty-backed Thornbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Slaty-backed Thornbill (Acanthiza robustirostris) is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU s WA to sw QLD (wc to ec Australia).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Slaty-backed Thornbill?
The Slaty-backed Thornbill is a very small bird that weighs around 6.1 g.
Where does the Slaty-backed Thornbill live?
The Slaty-backed Thornbill is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU s WA to sw QLD (wc to ec Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Slaty-backed Thornbill belong to?
The Slaty-backed Thornbill (Acanthiza robustirostris) belongs to the Acanthizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Slaty-backed Thornbill eat?
The Slaty-backed Thornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Slaty-backed Thornbill migrate?
The Slaty-backed Thornbill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Slaty-backed Thornbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Slaty-backed Thornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Slaty-backed Thornbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Slaty-backed Thornbill's range?
The Slaty-backed Thornbill has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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