| Forty-spotted Pardalote | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Pardalotidae |
| Genus: | Pardalotus |
| Species: | P. quadragintus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pardalotus quadragintus Gould, 1838 |
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The Forty-spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus) is one of Australia's rarest birds and by far the rarest pardalote, being confined to the south-east corner of Tasmania.
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A small, energetic passerine about 9 to 10 cm (3½-4 in) long, the Forty-spot is similar to the much commoner Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus), but has a dull greenish-brown back and head, compared to the more colourful plumage of the former, with which it shares its range, and there is no brow line. The rump is olive, the under-tail dull yellow. The chest is white with light yellow tints. The wings are black with white tips, appearing as many (closer to 60 than 40) discrete dots when the wings are folded. There is no seasonal variation in plumage; juveniles are slightly less colourful than the adults.
Now found reliably only in a few isolated colonies on south-eastern Tasmania, most notably on Maria Island and southern Bruny Island. It is occasionally reported from the suburbs of Hobart. Sedentary or locally nomadic over its restricted range, it is declining in numbers and listed as endangered. It is most successful on Maria Island, which is managed as a refuge, with introduced predators having been eliminated.
Relatively dry Eucalypt forests with high concentration of the Manna Gum, where it forages almost exclusively.
Usually in pairs or small flocks, the pardalotes forage methodically for small insects. They nest in tree hollows.