Rockwarbler Origma solitaria Scientific name definitions

12·5–15 cm; 14·5 g. A small, scrubwren-like, mainly terrestrial bird with longish square-ended tail. Plumage is dark brownish-grey above , with dark rufous wash on rump, distinctively contrasting blackish-brown tail; lores and ear-coverts warmer brown, narrow white eyering; chin and throat contras­tingly whitish with dark grey mottling (tipped paler when fresh); underparts dark rufous-brown, undertail-coverts dark brown; iris dark brown or dark red-brown; bill blackish-brown to dark grey, pinkish-brown base of lower mandible; legs grey-black or dark blackish-brown. Differs from <em>Pycnoptilus floccosus</em> in smaller size, slimmer and much smaller-headed appearance, longer and square-ended tail, white throat. Sexes similar. Juvenile is like a paler and duller adult, has greyer chin and throat washed rufous, contrasting less with head and underparts.

Strongly associated with exposed sandstone, limestone, granite and other rock formations , often near water. Inhabits gulleys, steep rocky hillsides, ravines, rocky outcrops and cliffs, sometimes adjacent car parks; recorded from sea cliffs and rocks. In these habitats associates with open eucalypt (Eucalyptus) woodland, heath and shrubland; avoids moist forest and woodland.

Insectivorous, but will take seeds. Food recorded includes beetles (Coleoptera), ants (Formicidae), wasps (Hymenoptera), lepidopteran larvae. Seeds of Panicum and Triticum, chenopods and Eucalyptus melliodora; bread crumbs and butter taken at picnic sites. Seen singly or in pairs, and in family groups up to five individuals, often confiding and bold; flicks tail laterally. Forages mainly on ground and rocks , but also low down in trees and shrubs, or on tree trunks. Probes into fissures; works ledges, overhangs, rock faces and boulders, also leaf litter, and seen to sally-hover for insects. Can move up vertical rock faces. Flight low and swift, usually for only short distance.

Calls mainly during breeding season, a plaintive shrill, “chis-sick” given repetitively; also a scolding chatter like that of Sericornis but higher-pitched, and a rasping slightly liquid contact call; trisyllabic “tid e da” or “tid-ed-dee tid-ed-dee tid-ed-dee” also noted. Known to mimic Pycnoptilus floccosus, Sericornis frontalis, Acanthiza reguloides, White-eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis), Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) and Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus). Rasping, slightly liquid note given as alarm.

Breeds Aug–Jan; sometimes double-brooded. Lives in pairs; probably monogamous. Nest usually built by both partners, ovate and tapered at both ends, with side entrance (sometimes hooded) at widest part, constructed from rootlets, moss, grass stalks and bark fibres, may be covered by spider egg sacs and bark fibre, inner layer less cohesive, of bark, leaves and grass, lined with feathers and plant down; suspended from surface, narrowly attached by spider web, wedged into place by bill and covered by secretion (likely saliva), in cave or other sheltered rocky site, or often artificial site (e.g. road culvert, shed, tunnel, mine shaft, building) used, and often in total or near-total darkness; nest sometimes reused, and nesting site may be utilized in successive years (five years documented). Clutch 3 eggs, sometimes 2, white (with apricot wash when fresh) with very faint sparse reddish-brown spotting; incubation period 21–27 days; nestling period 16–21 days; sometimes fearless around nest, will scold loudly and may approach intruder while holding wings outstretched and lowered. Nests parasitized by Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis); suggestion that weight of young cuckoo sometimes causes nest to fall to ground. Nest contents preyed on by goannas (Varanus) and eastern water dragons (Physignathus lesueurii), also by currawongs (Strepera).