Hello :)
I have had these little birds in my backyard for a while and I have no idea what species they are.
They are very small, the size of a wren, a high pitched repetitive call which they flicker their tail during their call.
Sorry about the quality of the photo, I couldn't zoom in very far and it is usually difficult to get a photo of the bird. The bird is sitting on the side mirror of a car, hopefully it can give an indication of it's size.
Thank you if anyone can help!
I should mention that it is in South Western Victoria
Hi Alice
It looks like a Brown Thornbill.
The dark eye is distinctive, otherwise many Thornbills look similar.
Your description of the call fits more with a Buff-rumped Thornbill, but the dark eye is not right for that bird. Buffies like dry scrubby hillsides, whereas Brown Thornbills are more wet country birds and even likely to visit into town gardens.
Brown Thornbill
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/114
From the Canberra Ornithologists Group photo Gallery
http://photogallery.canberrabirds.org.au/pardalotes_scrubwrens_thornbills_allies.htm#BRTB
Buff-rumped Thornbill
http://photogallery.canberrabirds.org.au/pardalotes_scrubwrens_thornbills_allies.htm#BUTB
The Buffy has a pale eye, not the dark eye your bird has. It sounds a ridiculously small feature to fix on, but it really is diagnostic. Your image shows the dark eye clearly.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Thank you for your reply!
I listened to the MP3 of the call and it does sound quite the same.
I think there are two of them currently living in my olive tree, they often stand on the side mirrors of all of our cars, looking for insects I assume.
They are lovely little birds, I love finding new birds that are living in my trees.