Gray Thornbill Acanthiza cinerea Scientific name definitions

9 cm. A small grey-and-white gerygone. Plumage is ashy grey above, slightly browner on upperwing and tail; tail has indistinct blackish subterminal band; clean white below, faint grey wash on chest and flanks; iris dark brown; bill dark greyish; legs grey. Distinguished from G. ruficollis by being much greyer above and whiter below, and lacking white tail spots. Sexes alike. Juvenile is much as adult, but base of lower mandible yellow.

Vogelkop (Arfak Mts) and C, E & SE mountain ranges of New Guinea; perhaps also Foja Mts (2 Beehler, B. M., J. M. Diamond, N. Kemp, E. Scholes, C. Milensky, and T. G. Laman (2012). Avifauna of the Foja Mountains of western New Guinea. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 132(2):84–101. Close ).

Upper montane forest and forest edge, mostly from 2000 m to tree-line, at c. 2800 m; sometimes descends to 1600 m and, rarely, as low as 1000 m.

Resident; some wandering to lower levels at times, but no regular movement reported.

Insectivorous, but no details known. Frequently found in small parties of 2–10 individuals with scrubwrens (Sericornis) and Friendly Fantail (Rhipidura albolimbata). Feeds actively in middle stratum to canopy, gleaning from leaves, twigs and branches; frequently hovers and sallies to grab insects, and may descend quite low along forest edge at times. Occupies similar niche to that exploited by Acanthiza murina, with which sometimes overlaps, but generally found at lower altitude than that species.

Song a pleasing slow, thin, descending series, very similar to that of G. ruficollis; also gives high-pitched “tee tee tee” or “tee ta tee”, and scolding “zznt zznt” like that of a Myzomela honeyeater.

No information.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common in higher mountains, but distribution patchy; not so common as G. ruficollis. As much of this species’ habitat lies in remote and inaccessible areas, its conservation is not of immediate concern.