Photo: Mark Jobling / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Tomtit
Petroica macrocephala
Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) — 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 Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) is a member of the Petroicidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 11.8 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 Petroicidae Australasian Robins
- Genus Petroica
- Species macrocephala
Where it lives
North, South, Stewart, Chatham, Snares and Auckland is. (New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Petroicidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tomtit 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 Tomtit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) belongs to the Petroicidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU North, South, Stewart, Chatham, Snares and Auckland is. (New Zealand).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 203,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tomtit?
The Tomtit is a very small bird that weighs around 11.8 g.
Where does the Tomtit live?
The Tomtit is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU North, South, Stewart, Chatham, Snares and Auckland is. (New Zealand), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tomtit belong to?
The Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) belongs to the Petroicidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tomtit eat?
The Tomtit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tomtit migrate?
The Tomtit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tomtit 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 Tomtit make?
1 real field recording of the Tomtit — 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 Tomtit's range?
The Tomtit has a mapped global range of about 203,000 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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