Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Monarchidae
  4. ›
  5. Symposiachrus
  6. ›
  7. Spectacled Monarch
Spectacled Monarch
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Spectacled Monarch

Symposiachrus trivirgatus(Temminck, 1826)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Monarchidae
Genus
Symposiachrus

At a glance

The Spectacled Monarch is a small bird, about 14–17 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
14–17 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Spectacled Monarch look like?

The Spectacled Monarch is a small bird, about 14–17 cm long and weighing 8–16 g.

The spectacled monarch is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
14–17 cm
Weight
7.5–16 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Spectacled Monarch?

The Spectacled Monarch is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Martin Rady · Caboolture - Hinterland, AU-QL, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Spectacled Monarch eat?

The Spectacled Monarch feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Spectacled Monarch in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Spectacled Monarch live in Australia?

The Spectacled Monarch is native to Australia, recorded across 17 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning lesser Sundas to east Australia.

BreedingLesser Sundas to east Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant
  • Non-breeding

5 regions recorded