EASTERN BRISTLEBIRD

Photographed at Barron Grounds National Park, NSW, July 2015.

636          EASTERN BRISTLEBIRD               Dasyornis brachypterus

Australia      (479)

Also known as Brown Bristlebird. 20-22 cm. Range: coastal se. Aust., scattered, isolated populations, from c. Marlo (e. Vic) to Cooloola NP and Conondale Ra., c. 100 km n. of Brisbane (Q). Found in coastal woodlands, dense scrubs and heathlands, especially wheeler heathland borders taller woodland or dense tall tea-tree. In McPherson Ras. (Q), heathy country above 600 m and open areas with gullies and ridges vegetated with dense Poa tussocks, near tall open eucalypt woodland, rainforest. Fire makes habitat unsuitable in short term but probably necessary for long term. Rare and vulnerable.

WESTERN BRISTLEBIRD

Photographed at Cheyenes Beach, Western Australia March 2015

553           WESTERN BRISTLEBIRD               Dasyornis longirostris

Australia         (394)

Also known as Brown Bristlebird. Endemic to s. WA: confined to Two People's Bay NR-Waychinnicup R., e. of Albany; Fitzgerald R. NP near Hopetoun. Found in dense, low, closed coastal heaths; open heaths with dense clumps of shrubs, eucalypt thickets; tall swampy heaths. Its area has been much reduced by fire. Considered endangered.

RUFOUS BRISTLEBIRD

Photographed Airey's Inlet, Victoria, February 2015

494          RUFOUS BRISTLEBIRD                Dasyornis broadbenti

Australia            (335)

This is the largest of the Bristlebirds, 24-27 cm. Found in coastal scrubs and tickets, gullies with rank growth of sword grass, blackberries, etc, undergrowth in gullies and temperate forests. Range from mouth of Murray River e. along to Ironbark Basin near Torquay (Vic); and possible pocket WA near C. naturalist to C. Leeuwin but possibly extinct.