Eastern Bristlebird

Photo by ChrisCharles
Barren Grounds Reserve, New South Wales, Australia, April 2007

Dasyornis brachypterus

Identification

21cm.

• Dull brown upperparts
• Light grey underparts
• Rufous wings
• Pale face
• Long tail can look frayed
• Bristles at base of bill
• Bright red iris

Distribution

Photo by joe cockram
Barren Grounds Reserve, New South Wales, Australia, July 2006

Found only in Australia.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies^[1]:

• D. b. monoides: rated as critically endangered

• Eastern Australia (south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales)

• D. b. brachypterus: rated as endangered

• South-eastern Australia (south-eastern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria)

Habitat

Low vegetation, heathland, and open woodland.

Behaviour

They forage in dense, low scrub, rarely flying any distance

Diet

The diet includes ants, grasshoppers and other insects.

Breeding

They build dome shaped nests either on or near the ground. The clutch consists of 2 eggs.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. New South Wales government
3. Queensland Government
4. Australian Government - Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eastern Bristlebird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eastern_Bristlebird

External Links

Search for photos of Eastern Bristlebird in the gallery