More often heard then seen, the Spotted Pardalote is a small bird usually of the high eucalypt canopy, feeding on leaf dwelling insects and the sugary shell created by lerp insects. They have also adapted to gardens.

Their call is a distinctive high peeping, carrying surprising distances. They nest in small hollows in big trees or form tunnels in earth banks, laying three to four white oval eggs. A similar species, without spots, the Striated Pardalote, also occurs in our district.

Size: 8-10cm

Photo and Illustration: Mark Trinham.