Inland ThornbillScientific name: Acanthiza apicalis
Meaning of name: Acanthiza is from the Greek words acantheon, meaning thorny brake, and zao, meaning I live. Apicalis is a Latin word meaning tipped.
Aboriginal name: Djoolbedjoolbong (chool’bechool’bang).
Distribution: Widespread across southern areas of Australia.
Description: Up to 11.5cm long with a 16cm wingspan.
Notes: The furthest distance recorded by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme for this species of bird to travel is 20 km. The oldest bird recorded was still alive when its band was read in April 2002, 16 years 10.7 months after being banded (information as at 21 June 2012).
The photographs for this species were not taken in the reserves of interest to the FQPB.
References: Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Various contributors.
What Bird is That? Neville W Cayley. 1978
Aboriginal names of bird species in south-west Western Australia, with suggestions for their adoption into common usage. Ian Abbott. 2009. Conservation Science Western Australia Journal. Volume 7 No 2 http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/about-us/science-and-research/76-publications-and-resources/103-conservation-science-wa-journal
Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/science/abbbs/abbbs-search.html
Photograph courtesy of Clive Nealon.
Photograph courtesy of B Wykes.
Photograph courtesy of Gary Tate.
