Photo: De Vis, 1897 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
New Guinea Thornbill
Acanthiza murina
New Guinea Thornbill (Acanthiza murina) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The New Guinea Thornbill (Acanthiza murina) is a member of the Acanthizidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 8.4 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 murina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The New Guinea 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 New Guinea Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The New Guinea Thornbill (Acanthiza murina) is a member of the Acanthizidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane wc to se New Guinea.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.4 g, with a wing length of about 5.7 cm and a tail of around 3.5 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 83,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the New Guinea Thornbill?
The New Guinea Thornbill is a very small bird that weighs around 8.4 g.
Where does the New Guinea Thornbill live?
The New Guinea Thornbill is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane wc to se New Guinea, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the New Guinea Thornbill belong to?
The New Guinea Thornbill (Acanthiza murina) belongs to the Acanthizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the New Guinea Thornbill eat?
The New Guinea Thornbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the New Guinea Thornbill migrate?
The New Guinea Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the New Guinea 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 New Guinea Thornbill make?
1 real field recording of the New Guinea 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 New Guinea Thornbill's range?
The New Guinea Thornbill has a mapped global range of about 83,000 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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Guides for this bird
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