Acanthizidae
59 species
The Acanthizidae—known as the bristlebirds, pardalotes and Australian warblers—are a family of passerine birds which also include gerygones, the thornbills Acanthiza, and the scrubwrens of Sericornis. The Acanthizidae family consists of small to medium passerine birds, with a total length varying between 8 and 19 centimetres (3.1 and 7.5 in). They have short rounded wings, slender bills, long legs, and a short tail. Most species have olive, grey, or brown plumage, although some have patches of a brighter yellow. The weebill is the smallest species of acanthizid, and the smallest Australian passerine; the largest is the pilotbird.
Acanthizids are native to Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the southwest Pacific. The greatest diversity is found in Australia, thirty five endemic species, then New Guinea with fifteen. A species is found in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, and a further three species occur in the New Zealand region, including endemic species in the Chatham Islands and Norfolk Island. In Asia two species are restricted to Indonesia and another is found in the Philippines and on mainland Asia. Most species are sedentary, with the exception of the gerygones. The family occupies a range of habitats from rainforests to arid regions.
The Acanthizidae—known as the bristlebirds, pardalotes and Australian warblers—are a family of passerine birds which also include gerygones, the thornbills Acanthiza, and the scrubwrens of Sericornis. The Acanthizidae family consists of small to medium passerine birds, with a total length varying between 8 and 19 centimetres (3.1 and 7.5 in). They have short rounded wings, slender bills, long legs, and a short tail. Most species have olive, grey, or brown plumage, although some have patches of a brighter yellow. The weebill is the smallest species of acanthizid, and the smallest Australian passerine; the largest is the pilotbird.
Acanthizids are native to Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the southwest Pacific. The greatest diversity is found in Australia, thirty five endemic species, then New Guinea with fifteen. A species is found in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, and a further three species occur in the New Zealand region, including endemic species in the Chatham Islands and Norfolk Island. In Asia two species are restricted to Indonesia and another is found in the Philippines and on mainland Asia. Most species are sedentary, with the exception of the gerygones. The family occupies a range of habitats from rainforests to arid regions.
