BIRDS OF THE OPEN FOREST 
65 
Nest. — A small, open structure, composed of bark and pieces of 
leaves bound together with cobwebs ; generally placed on a branch of a 
mangrove tree. 
Egg . — Pale bluish-grey, spotted all over with chestnut and underlying 
markings of purple, particularly at the larger end, where an irregular zone 
is formed. Breeding-season : October. 
10. Northern Shrike-tit Falcunculus whitei Campbell 
Fal-cmi-cu-lus — L., falcunculus , little falcon : whitei — H. L. White, Bell- 
trees, Scone, New South Wales. 
Distribution. — North-western Australia and Northern Territory. 
Notes. — Similar in habits to the Eastern Shrike-tit, but difficult to 
locate because of its subdued notes. 
Nest. — A compact, deep, cup-shaped structure, composed of strips of 
stringy-bark, matted together with cobwebs; lined with grass and thin 
strands of fine bark. Usually built near the top of the tallest upright 
branches of a gum sapling up to 50 feet from the ground. 
Eggs. — Two, white, finely marked with spots of dark olive, with 
underlying markings of pale grey. Breeding-season: August to January 
or February. 
11. Eastern Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus Latham 
front-a-tus — L., frontatus ( frons), with conspicuous forehead. 
Distribution. — Eastern and south-eastern Australia. 
Notes. — Also called Bark-tit, Yellow-hammer, Frontal Shrike-tit, and 
Falcon-shrike. Plentiful in tall timber and saplings. Usually in pairs or 
small parties ; by no means shy, as it fearlessly searches for food. Does 
great service in orchards, eating codlin moths, cockchafer beetles, and 
other pests. The “Knock-at-the-door, knock-at-the-door” call is frequently 
uttered; in addition it has a succession of sweet and high-pitched call- 
notes. 
Nest. — Similar to that of the Northern Shrike-tit. Before building, 
these birds break the green bark with their strong bills ; the sun then causes 
the broken bark to curl back, thus forming hooks which help to hold the 
nest in position. 
Eggs. — Two to three, white, marked with minute spots of dark olive 
and pale grey. Breeding-season: August to January. 
12. Western Shrike-tit Falcunculus leucogasler Gould 
leuc-o-gas -ter — Gk, leucos, white ; Gk, gaster, belly. 
Distribution. — South-western Australia only. 
Notes. — Similar in habits to the Eastern Shrike-tit. Hangs from 
slender twigs like a Honey-eater in search of insects, and tears off loose 
strips of bark under which spiders spin their cocoons. Call-note, a single 
“Ko” or “Koo,” very softly uttered. Another description is a plaintive 
whistling note like a faint “Poo-oo-pec-e.” 
