Colours
Distinguishing features
Its crown and head can be white, grey or black, and its body is either whitish or grey often streaked with black and grey. Its wings are black, with a broad bar in either white or cinnamon. The iris is dark orange, and the eye-ring legs and feet are orange-yellow. The beak is orange with a black tip that can extend as far as the base. Colouration completely depends on the subspecies, and certain subspecies are known to hybridize. (Wikipedia)
Size
- From 10 cm to 11 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Wingspan data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It is native to Australia and New Guinea. This species inhabits a broad range, and its appearance changes depending on its location hence the name "Varied" Sittella. The Australian subspecies are chrysoptera (Orange-winged Sitella), pileata (Black-capped Sitella), striata (Streaked Sitella), leucocephala (White-headed Sitella) and leucoptera (White-winged Sitella). The New Guinea subspecies are papuensis (Papuan or New Guinea Sitella), sometimes given specific status alba (White Sitella), intermedia (Intermediate Sitella) and albifrons (White-fronted Sitella). (Wikipedia)
