Spotted Pardalote

Pardalotus punctatus (pardalotus = leopard-spotted and punctatus = speck or spot) is one of our most attractive bush birds. However, the Spotted Pardalote, like its close relative the Striated Pardalote, is a tiny (80-100mm) bird that spends most of its time high in the canopy of eucalypts and is seldom seen up close.

With nest-lining material

Also like the striated pard, the Spotted Pardalote is more often heard than seen. Its ‘seeet-dee-dee’ call can be quite loud and at times incessant, giving rise to the name Headache Bird in some districts. Another name relating to its call is Miss Piggy (draw out the ‘miss’ and accelerate the ‘piggy’ and you will know what it means!). Jewell of the Bush and Diamond Bird are two other fairly obvious common names.

The Spotted Pardalote is distributed widely through the south-east of Australia and also occurs in a small area of southern Western Australia.

Some people with well vegetated native gardens are lucky enough to see a Spotted Pardalote lower down when it comes to ground level to a nest tunnel in some soft earth. Roadside cuttings, upended tree roots, and creek banks are also popular nesting sites for this little bird.

Female approaching a nest tunnel

Spotted Pardalotes eat insects and larvae on the foliage of eucalypts and are often seen with other similar species in mixed flocks. The Spotted pardalote is mostly sedentary but many populations can be locally nomadic.

A great little Australian endemic.