White-browed Scrubwren
Sericornis frontalis· 细嘴莺科(2 photos)
White-browed Scrubwren
11-13 cm. Male: blackish mask; cream eye; white eyebrow and bold curving silver-white whisker-mark; rufous rump; variable dark tail band. Female: duller, mask browner. Immature: duller. Pairs, parties: fussy; hops briskly on ground, logs, undergrowth; scolds intruders; tame in gardens.
- Similar Species
- Spotted, Tasmanian, Tropical Scrubwrens; thornbills.
- Voice
- clear, sustained 'tseer-tseer-tseer', or 'seat-you, seat-you', etc.; deep zizzing scolding, at intruders, cuckoos, snakes.
- Habitat
- undergrowth of forests, woodlands, scrubs, from sea level to above snowline: riverside thickets; heaths; bracken, saltmarsh, mangroves; parks, gardens.
- Breeding
- June-Dec.; communally.
- Nest
- domed of loose grass, twigs, fine roots, leaves; in bank; roots; undergrowth, sword-grass, tussock; hanging tin, coat in outhouse.
- Eggs
- 2-3; stout oval; grey-white to pale buff; blotched, spotted dull brown/purplish brown.
- Range & Status
- coastal e., s., sw. Aust. Race laevigaster: coastal ne. Aust., from Cairns-Atherton Tableland (Q) to ne. NSW. Race frontalis group: mainland se. Aust. and Furneaux Grp., w. to Adelaide region (SA). Common. Sedentary.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Sericornis frontalis laevigaster 2. Sericornis frontalis tweedi 3. Sericornis frontalis frontalis 4. Sericornis frontalis harterti 5. Sericornis frontalis rosinae 6. Sericornis frontalis flindersi
