Rockwarbler Origma solitaria
Royal National Park, Sydney, Australia

The Rockwarbler Origma solitaria (or Origma) is restricted to the sandstone formations around the Sydney region of New South Wales. It is a dark brown-grey bird with a cinnamon-tinged face and forehead, a dull white throat speckled black (which often appears quite dark in the field), reddish-brown underparts, and a black tail, which is often flicked sideways.

The Rockwarbler is found on Hawkesbury and other Sydney sandstone formations and nearby limestone formations (ie confined to areas on and around the Great Dividing Range, mainly within a 240 km radius of Sydney - this one was photographed along Lady Carrington’s Drive in the Royal National Park). It is usually found around rocky outcrops, in steep rocky gullies and usually near water, including along sea-cliffs in coastal areas, where it forages on the ground and in low branches, probing for insects in rock crevices, in caves and under ledges.

Rockwarblers live in monogamous pairs in a permanent home-range. The nest site is usually in a sandstone (occasionally limestone or granite) cave, in total or near-darkness and is re-used each year. It will also nest in darkened buildings, under rafters, on verandahs or in house eaves. The nest is a suspended dome-shaped structure made from roots, moss, grass and bark bound together with spider webs, and has a round side entrance that is sometimes hooded. The inner nest chamber is lined with soft materials, including feathers, fur, grasses and plant down. Both parents feed the young, which stay with their parents for some time after fledging.

Rockwarblers have declined in areas cleared for urban development around the Sydney region, but much of its remaining habitat is protected in reserves.

(Adapted from birdsinbackyards.net. Distribution map of Origma solitaria © Birds Australia Birdata)

All photographs copyright Charlie Moores