AVITOPIA - Shrike-tits

The only species in the family of Shrike-tits is endemic to Australia. It was recently separated from the family of Whistlers and placed in a family of its own. Their height ranges from 16 cm to 19 cm. They have short, powerful beaks and a contrasting, striped head with a black hood. Their habitat are eucalyptus forests. They live on insects and spiders, for which they typically tear off ribbons of tree bark. They can hold the prey with one foot and they hold twigs in their beak to poke for insects. They also prey on young birds during the breeding season. The nest is a deep bowl that the female builds and in which she lays two to three eggs. The breeding season lasts 18 to 20 days, and both sexes help with rearing the offspring.