The White-throated Gerygone is a very small grey brown bird with a white throat and spot on forehead, distinctive bright yellow underparts and a white-tipped tail. It has a red eye. Most often heard during breeding season, it is not obvious at other times. Similar species: The Fairy Gerygone, G. palpebrosa differs from the White-throated Gerygone in that it does not have the white tail tips, and some males have a black chin and/or throat. It also only overlaps in the Queensland part of the White-throated Gerygone's range, from Tropic of Capricorn to northern Cape York. The smaller Weebill, Smicrornis brevirostris, can resemble young White-throated Gerygones, but does not have a red eye, lacks the white throat and forehead and is generally paler above, with a shorter, paler bill.
Not Threatened
The White-throated Gerygone is a very small grey brown bird with a white throat and spot on forehead, distinctive bright yellow underparts and a white-tipped tail. It has a red eye. Most often heard during breeding season, it is not obvious at other times. Similar species: The Fairy Gerygone, G. palpebrosa differs from the White-throated Gerygone in that it does not have the white tail tips, and some males have a black chin and/or throat. It also only overlaps in the Queensland part of the White-throated Gerygone's range, from Tropic of Capricorn to northern Cape York. The smaller Weebill, Smicrornis brevirostris, can resemble young White-throated Gerygones, but does not have a red eye, lacks the white throat and forehead and is generally paler above, with a shorter, paler bill.
10-12 cm, 8 g
Taxonomy: Psilopus olivaceus Gould, 1838, New South Wales, Australia. Three subspecies recognized (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * cinerascens Sharpe, 1878 - SE New Guinea (around Port Moresby area and gulf coast), and NE Australia (N & C Cape York Peninsula). * rogersi Mathews, 1911 - N Australia from Western Australia (Roebuck Bay) E to SE corner of Gulf of Carpentaria. * olivacea (Gould, 1838) - E Australia from base of Cape York Peninsula S (extending inland to W slopes of Great Dividing Range) to SE & SC Victoria; scattered records in extreme E coastal South Australia.
The White-throated Gerygone is found in open eucalypt woodlands and forests and in vegetation along watercourses.
Feeds in trees on insects and other arthropods.
The White-throated Gerygone mates for life. It builds an oval or pear shaped nest of bark bound with spiders' silk, which is hung in the outer foliage of trees. Breeding season: September to November; longer in north of range. Clutch size: 2 to 3 Incubation: 12 days Time in nest: 15 days