BIRDS OF THE OPEN FOREST 
6 5 
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-cun'-cu-lus—L ., falcunculus , little falcon: whitei— H. L. White, 
Belltrees, 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 (Jrons), 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-thc-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 leucogaster 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-pee-e”. 
nest. Similar to that of the Northern Shrike-tit. 
