Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey Thornbill
Acanthiza cinerea
Grey Thornbill (Acanthiza cinerea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
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The Grey Thornbill (Acanthiza cinerea) is a member of the Acanthizidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 7.6 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 cinerea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Thornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey Thornbill (Acanthiza cinerea) is a member of the Acanthizidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane New Guinea.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.6 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 3.2 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 125,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Thornbill?
The Grey Thornbill is a very small bird that weighs around 7.6 g.
Where does the Grey Thornbill live?
The Grey Thornbill is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane New Guinea, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Grey Thornbill belong to?
The Grey Thornbill (Acanthiza cinerea) belongs to the Acanthizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey Thornbill eat?
The Grey Thornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey Thornbill migrate?
The Grey Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey 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 Grey Thornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Grey Thornbill — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey Thornbill's range?
The Grey Thornbill has a mapped global range of about 125,000 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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