Spotted Pardalote

What must be just about our most attractive small bush bird is seldom seen up close and yet is surprisingly common in this district.

 

The Spotted Pardalote is a tiny (8-9cm), insect eating bird that prefers to inhabit the canopy of eucalypts where it feeds on leaf-dwelling insects and sugary exudates. Some research suggests the Spotted Pardalote is one bird species that helps mitigate the effects of dieback in eucalyptus woodlands.

Particularly in summer, the presence of the spotted-pard is first indicated by its distinctive and persistent ‘seet, dee-dee’ call from high in the canopy. So persistent is its call that it is sometimes referred to as the ‘headache bird’. Other fitting descriptive names include ‘jewel-of-the-bush’ and ‘diamond bird’.

 

Most patches of bush throughout West Gippsland containing mature eucalypts will have their own population of Spotted Pardalotes - Thornell’s Reserve at Longwarry North, Nangara Reserve at Jindivick, Bellbird Park and Alex Goudie Reserve in Drouin all seem to have permanent populations.

 

The best time to see one of these stunning little beauties up close, is from the end of winter through to early summer when they often come to ground level to nest. Oddly, they dig a nest tunnel in some soft earth, mostly well concealed under some shrubbery or beside a log, etc. Occasionally they will adopt a well concealed corner of an urban garden. At Cranbourne Botanic Gardens last season, Spotted Pardalotes were seen entering and exiting their nest tunnels not more than 2 or 3 metres from busy footpaths.

All sorts of theories abound as to why the Spotted Pardalote digs a tunnel nest while its close cousin, the Striated Pardalote, also prevalent in West Gippsland, is happy to use small tree hollows or even cavities in old farm sheds, etc.

 

The Spotted Pardalote is a widespread species and considered to not be under threat. There is some evidence however, that some populations are vulnerable to urban land clearing. Spotted Pardalotes are basically sedentary birds but there can be some local seasonal movements in some areas.