Family Bristlebirds (Dasyornithidae)

Endangered

Western Bristlebird (Dasyornis longirostris)

figure, drawing, illustration of Western Bristlebird (Dasyornis longirostris)

Taxonomy

French: Dasyorne à long bec German: Tüpfelborstenvogel Spanish: Picocerdas occidental
Taxonomy:

Dasyornis longirostris

Gould

, 1841,

Swan River = King George Sound, Western Australia

.

See D. brachypterus. Monotypic.

Distribution:

Coastal SW Western Australia between Two Peoples Bay and Waychinicup, and in Fitzgerald River National Park. Small translocated population near Walpole (W of Albany) may now be extinct.

Descriptive notes

c. 17 cm; 26–39 g. The smallest bristlebird; stout body, short rounded wings, longish graduated and often ragged tail, and medium-length slightly decurved sturdy bill.... read more

Voice

Vocalizations loud and distinctive, throughout year, less frequent over summer and most intense in... read more

Habitat

Dense closed coastal heathland, and more open heath where dense clumps or thickets present. Heaths... read more

Food and feeding

Invertebrates and seeds, but few detailed data. Seeds include those of Anarthria scabra, Daviesia and Acacia;... read more

Breeding

Poorly known, and few records. Season Jul–Oct/Nov; single-brooded. Possibly pairs for life, partners spending much time together, but... read more

Movements

Sedentary; some local movement, especially after bush fires. One pair colonized a site at Two... read more

Status and conservation

ENDANGERED. CITES I. Restricted-range species: present in South-west ­Australia EBA. Formerly categorized as Endangered. After its initial discovery on Swan R, near Perth... read more

Recommended citation

Gregory, P. (2019). Western Bristlebird (Dasyornis longirostris). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/62333 on 18 February 2019).