Varied Sittela (orange-winged)

Description:

Small active bird, soft shades of grey with darker body flecks, white spots on rump, wings show bright rust orange flash of colour in flight, yellow/orange legs, light yellow eye ring, short dagger shaped beak. Forages for insects under bark on tree trunks, flicks bark away from tree with beak as it jumps up and down tree trunks and flies quickly to new locations, while talking constantly. Congregates in small flocks and works the tops of trees, as area is considered safe they descend to lower trunks.

Habitat:

Sittelas are found throughout eastern Australia in several types and where ranges overlap they tend to interbreed which makes identification more difficult. These ones in north east NSW dry woodland forest in the species range from Victoria through NSW and into central-south Queensland.

Notes:

Some members of this flock showed variations in colour and patterning. As they inspected my presence, fluttering close to my face, & showing off the striking orange wing colour, it made taking photographs difficult until they discovered the tasty morsels under nearby tree bark.