other small insects. Breeding The genus Acanthiza is native to New Guinea and Australia and comprises 12 sexually monomorphic species. The inland thornbill male is larger than the female. Some species of Acanthiza breed in pairs, while others are cooperative breeders. Inland thornbills are believed to breed in pairs as they are typically found alone or in pairs; this behaviour is similar to the known pair breeder, the brown thornbill. However, the ancestral breeding state for the genus Acanthiza and the tribe Acanthizini is cooperative breeding. Within the Acanthiza, on two separate occasions, pair breeding is believed to have evolved, but this is not believed to be due to environmental variables. The nest of the inland thornbill is domed and is near the ground, nestled in a shrub. The nest is constructed of dry grass and bark fragments bound by cobwebs; near the top is a side entrance, and the nest is lined with feathers and soft grass. Inland thornbill breeding season is July to December with three white eggs with reddish freckles and blotches. Predators Members of the genus Acanthiza and family Maluridae (Australasian wrens including the superb fairywren Malurus cyaneus) often foster the shining bronze-cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus). The inland thornbill is also known to be parasitised by fan-tailed cuckoos (Cuculus pyrrhophanus). Inland thornbills are also susceptible to cat predation. Conservation The IUCN Red List assessed inland thornbills as Least Concern on 01 October 2016. The justification was that the inland thornbill is not limited to a niche habitat and has a distribution range above the Vulnerable listing threshold. It is acknowledged that while the population trend of inland thornbills is decreasing, it is not rapidly approaching the >30% decline over three generations or ten years that would qualify Vulnerable due to population trend. Furthermore, while the exact population size of the inland thornbill is not quantified, it is believed to be greater than the threshold for Vulnerable status under the population size criterion. Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 in Queensland, the conservation status of the inland thornbill is Least Concern. Furthermore, the conservation status is secure in all states and territories where the inland thornbill can be found. Threats and human interaction Habitat destruction A definitive relationship between inland thornbills and habitat destruction is not clear. Some research suggests that inland thornbills have historically increased abundance when a jarrah wood forest is logged, but habitat trees are