Six species of Thornbills are found in the BirdLife East Gippsland Region; Brown, Striated, Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Buff-rumped and Weebill. Browns are by far the most often encountered and recorded. Of the 4,480 surveys (at 5/12/2025) recorded by BirdLife East Gippsland in its region, Brown Thornbills were recorded in 1,733 of the surveys. Only Superb Fairywrens, Grey Fantails and Australian Magpies were recorded more often. The frequency of recording for the other five Thornbill species found in the East Gippsland Region fall way behind the 1,733 records for Brown. Other records are, Striated 701, Yellow-rumped 458, Yellow 430, Buff-rumped 96 and Weebill 56.
Browns are sedentary and occupy a wide range of habitats with dense vegetation across most of East Gippsland, which may explain their greater abundance compared with the other thornbill species which have narrower habitat preferences in East Gippsland.
Of all the Thornbills, I think Browns have the greatest repertoire of calls which can include mimicry of other species and they also have harsh churring scolding alarm calls. Their main calls are fairly easily recognised which helps identify these small brown birds in dense vegetation which therefore results in a higher reporting rate.
Found most often singly or in pairs they can sometimes be found in family parties. Recently, while birding alone, I encountered such a party comprising five birds which I first noticed by their scolding alarm calls. At first I looked for the cause of their agitation which most often will be due to the presence of a predator. However it soon became apparent that I was the source of their agitation as they were clearly focused on me as they moved about in a bush close by. I took this rare opportunity to capture some close up photos.
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