Photo: Patrick_K59 / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Varied Sittella
Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera) is a member of the Neosittidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 11.7 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 Neosittidae Sittellas
- Genus Daphoenositta
- Species chrysoptera
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Neosittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Varied Sittella is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Varied Sittella is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera) is a species of bird in the Neosittidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except Tasmania).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 3.7 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 4.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Varied Sittella?
The Varied Sittella is a very small bird that weighs around 11.7 g.
Where does the Varied Sittella live?
The Varied Sittella is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except Tasmania), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Varied Sittella belong to?
The Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera) belongs to the Neosittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Varied Sittella eat?
The Varied Sittella is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Varied Sittella migrate?
The Varied Sittella is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Varied Sittella 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 Varied Sittella make?
1 real field recording of the Varied Sittella — 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 Varied Sittella's range?
The Varied Sittella has a mapped global range of about 4.7 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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