Large-billed Scrubwren.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Large-billed Scrubwren at nest.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Distribution map of Sericornis magnirostris
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Large-billed Scrubwren
Scientific name: Sericornis magnirostris
Family: Pardalotidae
Order: Passeriformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Small insect-eating birds
What does it look like?
Description
The Large-billed Scrubwren is a medium-sized, plain-coloured, arboreal (tree-dwelling) scrubwren with a rather short tail. Its long, dagger-like bill appears tilted upwards. The large dark red-brown eye stands out in the pale buff (orange-brown) face. The upperparts are olive-brown, more red-brown on the head and rump and the base of tail is washed rufous (reddish), with light buff underparts.
Similar species
The Atherton Scrubwren, S. keri, is similar to the Large-billed Scrubwren but is smaller and slimmer with shorter legs. Unlike the Large-billed Scrubwren, it tends to feed on the ground or a few metres above.Where does it live?
Distribution
The Large-billed Scrubwren occurs in coastal south-eastern Australia, from Cooktown, Queensland to Kinglake National Park north east of Melbourne, Victoria, and inland as far as Chinchilla, Queensland, and Tenterfield, New South Wales.
Habitat
The Large-billed Thornbill lives in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, from the coastal lowlands to the slopes, ridges and tablelands of the Great Dividing Range.
Seasonal movements
Sedentary.
What does it do?
Feeding
The Large-billed Scrubwren, unlike most scrubwrens, does not feed on the ground. It forages for insects and spiders, working upwards on trunks and branches of trees and vines 3 m - 17 m above the forest floor. It usually forages in pairs or small flocks of up to six birds, but can at times also feed in mixed species flocks.
Breeding
In south-eastern Australia, it seldom builds its own nest and uses nests of other species, especially the Yellow-throated Scrubwren. When it does build its own nest, it is domed with a side entrance and made of plant stems, rootlets, leaf remnants and moss, lined with feathers.
Living with us
Living with humans
No specific studies of human impacts on Large-billed Scrubwrens have been made, but their habitat would be reduced by extensive clearing of rainforest.References
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. 1997. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Morcombe, M. 2000. Field guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing.
Higgins, P.J. and J.M. Peter (eds) 2002. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 6: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.