With the heaviest bird in the world, the Common Ostrich, weighing up to 156kg (346lb) it’s pretty staggering that the species I’m sharing today have an average weight of 6-7g.
1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 800
Weebills are Australia’s tiniest bird. Their average weight is 6g, the same as six paperclips. I put six paperclips in my hand and felt totally awed by such tiny birds; the weight was imperceptible. If I’ve done the maths correctly it would take 26,000 Weebills to equal the weight of one Common Ostrich.
I was lucky to see the one above out in the open as I usually see them in the treetops.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 3200
Weebills were named because of their ‘wee bill’ which is quite distinctive. They spend much of their time foraging for scale insects in the canopy, where they can be difficult to see as they are often smaller than the leaves.
1/800, f/4.0, ISO 4000, handheld
Canon R5, Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM
The Brown Thornbill photograph above is one of my favourite shots. These tiny birds weigh between 6g and 7g and are absolute gems. I love the little scallop shapes on its head and those wispy feathers fluffing around its wing. Capturing this bird with its tail down as it came into land, is pretty unique.
1/1000, f/5.0, ISO 6400, handheld
Canon R5, Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM
A slightly different pose shows off more of its streaked underparts and its desperately thin legs.
It can often be tricky to identify these LBBs or LBJs (Little Brown Birds, or Little Brown Jobs, depending where you live). I used to long for a ‘thornbill species’ category when surveying for the New Atlas of Australian Birds but once you get your eye in it gets easier and easier and the gorgeous details that grace each species become clearer and clearer.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra – 10K+ followers
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
~ Browse prints and gifts Lirralirra Shop or contact me directly
Thanks Kim for sharing these amazing photos! I have weebills and thornbills in my garden, one of my success stories, as there was no sign of any little birds when I moved here 28 years ago. You’re hints on how to distinguish them in one of your blogs helped me to identify them when they came to live here. Now, especially in summer, one of my first jobs after being away, is to fill the birdbath. My little friends remind me as soon as I walk up the path.
Thanks Liz, I’m glad that you like them. What an absolutely wonderful success story! I very rarely see Weebills, it must be fabulous to have them in your garden.
Tiny little heartwarming miracles. Thank you.
As I read your words EC a flurry of heartwarming fairywren miracles arrived for a splash in the birdbath.
I had never heard of Weebills! I love all these pics, but the last one is just magic for me. They look so endearing and adorable. I love that their exquisite details can be seen in your images, it’s so special as I am never able to see them like that in real life – just tiny whizzing blobs!
‘Tiny whizzing blobs’ is hilarious! I shall think of them as TWBs now instead of LBB.Thanks for letting me know how much you like the details too, and which photograph you like best, I always find that very interesting.
Excellent. I too love the photo with the tail down. All of them are so descriptive of the species.
Thanks Wendy! I love photographing tiny birds, there is something quite magical about them.