Jacky-winter Microeca fascinans Scientific name definitions

12·5–14 cm; 14–20 g. Nominate race has diffuse whitish supercilium, narrow black stripe from lores to behind eye, white eyering; crown, face, neck and upper­parts grey-brown, upperwing dark brown with faint paler edging on remiges, upperwing-coverts grey-brown; tail  dark brownish-black, central feather pair narrowly tipped white, amount of white at tip increasing outwards on rectrices T2-T4, outer two pairs entirely white; chin, throat and underparts  off-white, breast side and flanks washed brownish-grey; iris dark brown; bill and legs very dark brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile  is grey-brown above with feathers tipped off-white, underparts  off-white with brown feather tips; immature as adult but retains pale-tipped primary coverts. Race assimilis  has white in tail restricted to distal half of outermost rectrix  and distal third to quarter of adjacent one; <em>pallida</em> is paler than others, with more pronounced white on lores and supercilium; zimmeri has upperparts and underparts washed yellow.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Eucalypt (Eucalyptus) woodland, mallee and other dry, lightly timbered scrublands, particularly with open shrub layer and clear spaces; also ecotones between timbered and cleared land, cleared paddocks, urban parks and gardens. In New Guinea (race zimmeri) inhabits eucalypt savanna in lowlands.

Some movements reported, but nature and extent of these not known. In many areas present throughout year; elsewhere, limited seasonal shifts to more open areas. Longest movement of marked individual less than 10 km from site of original ringing.

Insects, spiders  (Araneae), worms (Oligochaeta) and other small invertebrates. Prey  captured mainly on ground or in air; techniques are pounce to ground from perch (66%), aerial flycatching (26%) and sally-striking (8%). Sometimes joins mixed-species flocks; often associates with Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta) and Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Song a vivacious “peter-peter”, repeated  often. Call a pair of pleasant loud whistled notes, the first three tones lower than the second, given three or more times with no pauses, “pretty-pretty-pretty”. An accomplished mimic.

In Australia Aug–Jan, or in arid areas after rain, and one or two broods per season; in New Guinea, fledged young from mid Oct to late Jan indicating breeding in late dry season, otherwise nesting habits in New Guinea undescribed. Breeds as pair, occasionally with helpers, up to three of which observed at single nest. Presumed male performs song flight like that of a lark (Alaudidae), to 120–150 m in air. Nest built by female, a small shallow cup of grass, bark strips and rootlets, bound with spider web, sometimes with bark attached to outside, lined with fur, bark, feathers and lichen, external diameter 5·1–7 cm, height 2·9–3·8 cm, internal diameter 3·7–4·8 cm, depth 1·5–1·9 cm; placed 1–18 m (mostly c. 5 m) above ground, generally in exposed fork of horizontal branch, usually a dead one. Clutch 1–3 eggs  , usually 2  , light grey-blue or blue-green with spots and blotches of reddish-brown and underlying lavender, average size 19·9 × 14·3 mm; incubation by female, period 16–18 days; nestlings brooded apparently by female, fed  by both parents, leave nest at 17–20 days; adult performs injury-feigning distraction display; young fed by both parents for 10–15 days after leaving nest. Nests parasitized by Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus), Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus) and Shining Bronze-cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus). Hatching success 25–52%; fledging success often quite low, c. 9%. Greatest recorded longevity 5 years 3 months.

Not globally threatened. Common to rather scarce. In Australia, common in most of range, less so in N. Declining around denser human habitation and in areas cleared for agriculture. In New Guinea, generally scarce and local, and absent from many areas within distributional limits; was apparently common around Port Moresby during 1943, suggesting that a decline in numbers has occurred in recent years.