Inland thornbill

The inland thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis), called the broad-tailed thornbill, is a small, insect-eating bird of Australia. The inland thornbill is commonly confused with the coastal brown thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla) due to its similar colorations.[3] The inland thornbill encompasses four subspecies:[4]

• Acanthiza apicalis albiventris
• Acanthiza apicalis apicalis, the nominate subsp.
• Acanthiza apicalis cinerascens
• Acanthiza apicalis whitlocki, Whitlock's tit. Originally described as a species of Acanthiza by A. J. North, who was requested to honour the collector of its specimens, F. Lawson Whitlock, by the sponsor of the expedition, H. L. White.[5]

Inland thornbill
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Acanthizidae
Genus:	Acanthiza
Species:	A. apicalis
Binomial name
Acanthiza apicalis Gould, 1847
Subspecies[2]
A. a. cinerascens - Schodde & Mason, IJ, 1999 A. a. whitlocki - North, 1909 A. a. apicalis - Gould, 1847 A. a. albiventris - North, 1904

The inland thornbill ranges in size from 9 to 11 centimetres, averaging 10 centimetres and 7 grams.[6] The bird has a grey-brown back, a reddish rump, and a dark tail with a white tip. Its underbelly is cream colored with black streaks. Both male and female thornbills look similar, though male birds tend to be a bit larger.[6]

Breeding season lasts from July through December. Female thornbills average three eggs per clutch, which incubate for 19 days. Baby birds leave the nest after 17 days.[6]

The inland thornbill can be found throughout Australia inland of the Great Dividing Range, but not in tropical northern climates or in Tasmania.[3] The inland thornbill overlaps in range with the brown thornbill along the Great Dividing Range, leading to numerous mis-sightings.[6] Inland thornbills live in dry scrublands and woodlands. In Southwestern Australia, they also inhabit sand heaths and karri and jarrah forests.[6] It feeds on small insects and spiders, and occasionally seeds and small vegetable matter, beneath shrubs and in foliage.