Pardalotes: Pardalotidae

Pardolotes spend most of their time high in the outer foliage of trees, feeding mostly on lerps, as well as insects and spiders. Their feeding on lerp infestations in eucalyptus forests is significant to maintaining the health of the forest ecosystem. They nest in pairs, only combining in groups during winters, migrations, and after breeding periods. They sometimes come together into flocks after the breeding season. Several species are migratory and make large seasonal movements. They often forage in flocks of several species during the winter. When feeding, they make clicking sounds from their bills while removing lerps from the foliage.

Female and male partners defend their nesting territories with two- to five-note whistles that are also repeated over and over again. Breeding partners mate for life (that is, they are monogamous [muh-NAH-guh-mus]). Nests are built in shapes of cups, sometimes with domes on top. Nests are usually built in hollows or burrows. Deep horizontal tunnels that lead to the nests are burrowed into earthen banks or horizontally into the ground, and are usually dug 16 to 28 inches (40 to 70 centimeters) long. At other times, nests are made in tree hollows. The external size of the nest is usually no bigger than a mouse hole, but the tunnel can be up to 3 feet (1 meter) in length. The nests are made with various plant fibers. Females lay three to five eggs that are 0.6 by 0.5 inches to 0.7 by 0.6 inches (1.6 by 1.3 centimeters to 1.9 by 1.5 centimeters). The incubation period (time necessary to sit on eggs before hatching) is fourteen to sixteen days, while the nestling period (time necessary to take care of young birds unable to leave the nest) is about twenty-five days.