ACANTHIZA EWINGII - (GOULD, 1844)
L'Acanthize de Tasmanie (Acanthiza ewingii) est une espèce de passereau endémique d'Australie. C'est un petit oiseau brun vivant uniquement en Tasmanie et dans les îles du détroit de Bass. C'est un oiseau commun dans ces régions où on le trouve souvent dans les forêts humides et les zones de broussailles. Il se reproduit exclusivement dans les zones froides et humides.
Description
Long de 10 centimètres, il a un plumage principalement brun clair sauf le dessous de la queue qui est blanc et le poitrail strié de gris. Il n'y a pas de différence de coloration ou de taille entre les sexes.
Alimentation
Son régime alimentaire s'articule principalement autour de petits insectes qu'il recherche et consomme près du sol.
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The Tasmanian thornbill (Acanthiza ewingii) is a small brown bird only found in Tasmania and the islands in the Bass Strait. It is a common bird in these regions, often found in rainforests, wet forests, and scrublands. It occurs exclusively in cold and wet areas.Its diet revolves primarily around small insects, which it scrounges up and feeds on close to the ground. Averaging 10 centimeters in length, the Tasmanian thornbill is a small bird. Primarily light brown in coloration, the bird has a white undertail and a grey-streaked breast. There is no significant coloration or size differentiation between sexes. The Tasmanian thornbill has been assessed as a secure species, and its current status is listed as "Least Concern".
Description
The Tasmanian Thornbill is a medium sized thornbill very similar to the Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla. The two are best told apart by the adage that the Tasmanian Thornbill "wears the white underpants". The adult Tasmanian Thornbill is olive-brown above with rufous-brown suffusion to the forehead; dull rufous-brown rump-patch and prominent rufous brown panel on folded wings. The underparts are off-white with diffuse fine dusky mottling on chin, throat and breast, and clean white undertail-coverts. Juvenile birds are similar to adults but newly fledged birds are fluffier.
Similar Species
Easily confused with Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla which also occurs in Tasmania. The principal differences are:
The undertail-coverts of the Tasmanian Thornbill are clear white whereas those of the Brown Thornbill are duller buffish;
The edges of the primary feathers in the wing are a rich rufous-brown whereas the brown Thornbill has much les contrasting buff edges to the wing feathers;
The tail is longer in the Tasmanian Thornbill;
The chin, throat and breast are greyer;
The forehead of the Tasmanian Thornbill shows little of the scalloping present in the Brown Thornbill.
Distribution
Endemic to Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait.
Habitat
Occupies similar habitat to that of the Brown Thornbill but somewhat damper. Understory of dense eucalypt forest, temperate rainforest with a well developed scrub understorey. Typically found in wet gullies rather than dry slopes.
Feeding
Primarily insectivorous but eats seeds occasionally. The Tasmanian Thornbill is typically arboreal and forages at all levels in the forest, including on the ground. Gleans food from the leaves and the bark of trunks, branches and twigs.
Breeding
Breeds from September to January. Nests low in dense vegetation such as bracken and dense shrubs. The nest is a neat rounded dome usually covered by a hinged flap that almost covers the entrance hole. The nest is made of green moss, grass and fine strips of bark. 3 to 4 eggs are laid shortly after completion of the nest. Incubation is by the female alone however it is not known how long the eggs are incubated for nor the period from hatching to independence.
Description
Long de 10 centimètres, il a un plumage principalement brun clair sauf le dessous de la queue qui est blanc et le poitrail strié de gris. Il n'y a pas de différence de coloration ou de taille entre les sexes.
Alimentation
Son régime alimentaire s'articule principalement autour de petits insectes qu'il recherche et consomme près du sol.
--------------------------------
The Tasmanian thornbill (Acanthiza ewingii) is a small brown bird only found in Tasmania and the islands in the Bass Strait. It is a common bird in these regions, often found in rainforests, wet forests, and scrublands. It occurs exclusively in cold and wet areas.Its diet revolves primarily around small insects, which it scrounges up and feeds on close to the ground. Averaging 10 centimeters in length, the Tasmanian thornbill is a small bird. Primarily light brown in coloration, the bird has a white undertail and a grey-streaked breast. There is no significant coloration or size differentiation between sexes. The Tasmanian thornbill has been assessed as a secure species, and its current status is listed as "Least Concern".
Description
The Tasmanian Thornbill is a medium sized thornbill very similar to the Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla. The two are best told apart by the adage that the Tasmanian Thornbill "wears the white underpants". The adult Tasmanian Thornbill is olive-brown above with rufous-brown suffusion to the forehead; dull rufous-brown rump-patch and prominent rufous brown panel on folded wings. The underparts are off-white with diffuse fine dusky mottling on chin, throat and breast, and clean white undertail-coverts. Juvenile birds are similar to adults but newly fledged birds are fluffier.
Similar Species
Easily confused with Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla which also occurs in Tasmania. The principal differences are:
The undertail-coverts of the Tasmanian Thornbill are clear white whereas those of the Brown Thornbill are duller buffish;
The edges of the primary feathers in the wing are a rich rufous-brown whereas the brown Thornbill has much les contrasting buff edges to the wing feathers;
The tail is longer in the Tasmanian Thornbill;
The chin, throat and breast are greyer;
The forehead of the Tasmanian Thornbill shows little of the scalloping present in the Brown Thornbill.
Distribution
Endemic to Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait.
Habitat
Occupies similar habitat to that of the Brown Thornbill but somewhat damper. Understory of dense eucalypt forest, temperate rainforest with a well developed scrub understorey. Typically found in wet gullies rather than dry slopes.
Feeding
Primarily insectivorous but eats seeds occasionally. The Tasmanian Thornbill is typically arboreal and forages at all levels in the forest, including on the ground. Gleans food from the leaves and the bark of trunks, branches and twigs.
Breeding
Breeds from September to January. Nests low in dense vegetation such as bracken and dense shrubs. The nest is a neat rounded dome usually covered by a hinged flap that almost covers the entrance hole. The nest is made of green moss, grass and fine strips of bark. 3 to 4 eggs are laid shortly after completion of the nest. Incubation is by the female alone however it is not known how long the eggs are incubated for nor the period from hatching to independence.