Mangrove gerygone

Gerygone levigaster

SUBFAMILY

Acanthizinae

TAXONOMY

Gerygone levigaster Gould, 1843, Port Essington, Northern Territory, Australia.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Mangrove warbler, buff-breasted warbler; French: Gérygone des mangroves; German: Mangrove-Gerygone; Spanish: Ratona Hada de los Mangles.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

4 in (10–11 cm); 0.25 oz (7 g). A tiny bird with a brown back, white underparts, and a white brow.

DISTRIBUTION

Coasts of northern and eastern Australia south to Newcastle. Also small area in southeastern New Guinea.

HABITAT

Mangroves and neighboring vegetation, sometimes rainforests and gardens.

BEHAVIOR

Active and fairly tame. May be migratory at southern part of range. Attractive, whistling song and soft chattering notes.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Gleans, snatches, and hovers at outer foliage of mangroves and other trees for insects.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Breeds from September to April. Oval nest is suspended from foliage of mangroves and has a hooded side entrance. Two or three pinkish, speckled eggs.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.