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Small, long-tailed terrestrial bird of southeastern New South Wales and ranges on the Queensland border.
Endangered
Sensitive species — location data may be restricted
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyBristlebirds
SizeMedium
RarityUncommon
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from September to November.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Han Buckx
Range map
Range map
69visible hotspots
2933visible records
2states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Mottled grayish brown, paler below, with red eye, reddish wing, pale throat, faint pale supercilium, and long, graduated rusty tail. Dark bristles around bill give this species its name.
Behavior
Runs around on the ground in forested areas with dense understory, as well as in coastal heathland, and rarely seen in flight.
Gallery