Birds · Passeriformes · Pardalotidae

Spotted Pardalote

Pardalotus punctatus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The spotted pardalote is one of the smallest birds in Australia, with a black back flecked with white spots and a brightly coloured rump and eyebrows. It lives in the crowns of eucalypts, where it gathers lerps, the sugary coverings that certain sap-sucking insects secrete on the leaves. Its nest is a peculiarity: it digs a horizontal tunnel into an earth bank, sometimes a considerable distance from the woodland where it feeds.

Weight

6 g – 10 g

Size

8 cm – 10 cm

Lifespan

6 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestInsectivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest

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Fun facts

It lives in the treetops and nests underground: it digs a tunnel up to half a metre long into a bank, a roadside cutting or even a flowerpot, and builds a bark-lined chamber at the end.
It feeds mainly on lerps, the sugary coverings that psyllids make on eucalypt leaves, and its presence helps keep those pests in check in Australian woodlands.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Eucalypt crowns in woodland, parks and gardens of southern and eastern Australia
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 16 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 4 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardalotus_punctatus