Striated Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
One of the more common resident breeding birds in our garden would have to be the Striated Pardalote. These delightful little birds are present every day, and we enjoy hearing their ‘peep-peep’ call as they forage for food in the leaf canopy of trees near our home.
We have two species of pardalote present here, the other one being the Spotted Pardalote. That one we affectionately call the ‘squeaky gate’ pardalote, because that’s what its call sounds like.
Both species nest in a hollow. The hollow can be a small tree hollow, or it can be in a burrow dug in the sandy soil around here. They will also utilise a small hollow in buildings, such as between bricks and woodwork.
I saw some birds that looked like this down at a shopping centre. They were tiny and very timid when approached but otherwise comfortable. But I have spent the past week trying to identify them, and I was wondering if there are any other species that look very similar to these or have I identified my mystery birds?
P.S. Your blog is excellent, I’m just getting in to bird watching myself and have set up my first bird bath in the backyard. I’m really enjoying it, and your blog is a great resource for learning more about them. Thanks for writing for us.
Hi there Jay – thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Thanks also for your kind words about my birding blog. I try to write a new article at least every second day, so I invite you to return often.
You didn’t say which part of Australia you saw these lovely little birds. The Striated Pardalote is found throughout most of Australia. It has a white streak along the edge of the wing when not flying and streaks on the crown. Its call is a sharp ‘chip-chip’ or ‘pick-it-up.’
The Spotted Pardalote has a bright yellow rump, spots on the wings and crown. Its call is a squeaky, plaintive ‘dee-dee’ not unlike a squeaky gate.
Hope this helps.
I have a sweet little pair of Striated Pardalotes nesting in a hole in the eaves of my roof. I find their chirping to be more like a car alarm being activated. The only problem is that they sit on the fence in front of my kitchen window and chirp for hours on end. It can be a little irritating. I did find it easy to identify this tiny bird though, even though I don’t recall ever seeing one before this year. I am in suburban Perth. Your blog is very good.