Postcard AU-313788

This stamp and maxicard issue is the fourth in the Australian Birds series. It focuses on pardalotes, a family (Pardalotidae) of foliage-gleaning, mainly insectivorous birds native to Australia and sometimes known as "peep-wrens" or "diamond birds". Unlike wrens, pardalotes do not have the upward-pointing tail.

The name "pardalote" derives from the Greek word meaning spotted, as small whitish spots are common to the family, although most particularly to the Spotted Pardalote and Forty-spotted Pardalote.

Pardalotes are small, around 8.5cm to 12cm, with short tails and wings, longish legs and thick stubby beaks. Their plumage combines both dull and striking colours. They prefer a eucalypt habitat over anything else - often the high outer foliage - and they play a strong role in controlling lerp infestations (a sap-sucking insect).

So beautiful!