- Scrubtit
Taxobox
name = Scrubtit
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum =Animalia
phylum =Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Acanthizidae
genus = "Acanthornis"
genus_authority = Legge, 1887
species = "A. magnus"
binomial = "Acanthornis magnus"
binomial_authority = (Gould, 1855)
synonyms =The Scrubtit ("Acanthornis magnus") is a species of
bird in the thornbill familyAcanthizidae . It ismonotypic within the genus "Acanthornis", and is endemic toTasmania and King Island inAustralia . Its naturalhabitat is the temperaterainforest , "Nothofagus " beech forest andeucalypt woodland. It is a small species that resembles the "Sericornis " scrubwrens (with which is was once placed).The Scrubtit is 11-12 cm long and weighs around 10 g. The
plumage consists of a white throat and belly, a brown back, crown, flank and tail, black wings and grey on the face. The eye is pale and the bill is short, black and slightly curved. The species is often silent but makes quite contact calls and has a song described as "sweet [and] musical".The Scrubtit forages individually, in pairs or in small family groups near the ground in dense cover. It feeds on small invertebrates, particularly insects and their eggs. The species will associate with
mixed-species feeding flock s. The species is territorial and monogamous, with the breeding season lasting from September to January. The nest is a weaved globe with a side entrance, lined with feathers and fur, camouflaged and usually found between 1-3 m off the ground. The clutch size is usually 3 eggs, although no information exists about incubation or nestling times. Both parents feed the chicks in the nest. The species is victim tobrood parasitism byFan-tailed Cuckoo s andShining Bronze Cuckoo s, andquoll s also take eggs and nestlings.The species has a restricted range but is not considered
threatened by theIUCN . The subspecies found on King Island is considered critically endangered however. The species is sky and unobtrusive and is seldom observed by people.References
* BirdLife International 2004. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/50867/all Acanthornis magna] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on 24 July 2007.
* Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788496553422
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