The genus
Acanthiza was introduced in 1827 by the naturalists
Nicholas Vigors and
Thomas Horsfield with
Motacilla pusilla Shaw, the
brown thornbill as the
type species. The genus name combines the
Ancient Greek ακανθα/
akantha meaning "thorn" with ζαω/
zaō "to inhabit" or "to live". They are found primarily in
Australia and have a thin long beak. Colloquially the thornbill is sometimes referred to as a “tit” by locals, but in reality the Australian continent lacks any
true tits, albeit
Acanthiza species do show some similarities with tits in their behavior. They have a similar role as small insect-eating birds with titmice and kinglets. Like tits, Thornbills live in small groups foraging amidst trees and shrubs, and feed in a similar manner.
Cooperative breeding is recorded from most species except the brown and Tasmanian thornbills. The habitat preferences of the group vary from dense forest to open saltbush and bluebush plains.
Acanthiza follow a very characteristic undulating path when flying. Their
diet is formed essentially of little
insects and
plant lice that these birds glean from foliage. They are also exceptional acrobats that are easily able to stay head downward like tits do. The
nest of the
Acanthiza is a large dome-shaped construction, completely enclosed except for a side hole, just like that of the
long-tailed tit; however
Acanthiza adds to it an additional room whose function is unknown. It is somewhat similar to the
Aegithalidae in combining long incubation periods with highly synchronous hatching. This combination, normally impossible due to intense competition for food, occurs because parents and (usually) helpers can organise food supply in such a manner that sibling competition for food is virtually absent. The number of
eggs usually ranges from two to four, and the incubation period is around twenty days with laying intervals of two days. The length of an adult bird is . ==Species==