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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Acanthizidae
  4. ›
  5. Sericornis
  6. ›
  7. White-browed Scrubwren
White-browed Scrubwren
Photo · (c) Sean Frey, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

White-browed Scrubwren

Sericornis frontalis(Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Acanthizidae
Genus
Sericornis

At a glance

The White-browed Scrubwren is a tiny bird, about 11–15 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
11–15 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a White-browed Scrubwren look like?

The White-browed Scrubwren is a tiny bird, about 11–15 cm long and weighing 9–20 g.

The white-browed scrubwren is a passerine bird found on the New England Tablelands and coastal areas of Australia. Placed in the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this has met with opposition and indeed is now known to be wrong; they rather belong to the independent family Acanthizidae.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
11–15 cm
Weight
8.8–20 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a White-browed Scrubwren?

The White-browed Scrubwren 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

Wooden Box · Valley Conservation Reserve, Mount Waverley, VIC, AU

Call

John Cull · Wantirna South VIC 3152, Australia

Call

Jono · Acton ACT 2601, Australia

Call

Bronte-Maye · Rockdale, AU-NS, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a White-browed Scrubwren eat?

The White-browed Scrubwren feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

2 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the White-browed Scrubwren live in Australia?

The White-browed Scrubwren is endemic to Australia, recorded across 51 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning west, south and east Australia.

BreedingWest, south and east Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded