Striated Pardalote

The Striated Pardalote is a tiny, compact songbird and the most widely distributed of Australia's pardalotes, showing considerable geographic variation in plumage across its range. It typically has a streaked blackish crown, a bright yellow spot in front of the eye, olive-grey upperparts, a yellow-tinged throat and breast, and varying amounts of chestnut or red on the wing depending on subspecies and region.

Like other pardalotes, it spends much of its time high in the eucalypt canopy feeding on tiny sugary lerps produced by psyllid insects, making it, despite being common and widespread, more frequently heard than seen by most observers looking up into tall gum trees.

Its short, clipped, repetitive call, often likened to 'pick-it-up' or 'wit-e-choo', is a familiar and ever-present sound of eucalypt forests and woodlands across the continent, and some populations undertake substantial seasonal migrations, unusual among Australia's small songbirds.

Key field marks

• Tiny size, streaked blackish crown (not spotted)
• Bright yellow spot in front of the eye
• Olive-grey upperparts with yellow-washed throat and breast
• Chestnut or red markings on the wing, varying by subspecies
• Short, sharply repeated 'pick-it-up' type call

Similar species

The Spotted Pardalote has a boldly white-spotted (not streaked) black crown and a red rump, and gives a different, more rhythmic three-note call. The Striated Pardalote's streaked crown, yellow eye spot, and clipped call are the best distinguishing features.

Habitat

Striated Pardalotes occupy a wide range of eucalypt-dominated habitats, including forests, woodlands, and mallee, feeding mainly in the outer canopy but nesting in tree hollows, earthen banks, or occasionally artificial cavities.

Range

The species is found across almost all of mainland Australia and Tasmania, making it the most widely distributed of the Australian pardalotes.

Migration

Some populations, particularly the Tasmanian and southeastern mainland forms, are strongly migratory, moving north to spend the winter in warmer parts of the mainland before returning south to breed, while other populations are more sedentary.

Behavior

Striated Pardalotes forage actively and often in small flocks high in the eucalypt canopy, gleaning food from leaves, and can gather in larger numbers during migration.

Voice

Its call is a short, clipped, repeated phrase, often rendered as 'pick-it-up' or 'wit-e-choo', delivered frequently from the canopy and one of the most familiar background sounds of Australian eucalypt woodland.

Feeding

It feeds mainly on lerps and small insects gleaned from eucalypt foliage, occasionally taking prey in brief aerial sallies.

Nesting and breeding

Nests are built in tree hollows, or in tunnels excavated in earthen banks, depending on subspecies and location; both parents share incubation and feeding of the young, and pairs may raise more than one brood in a season.