Rufous Bristlebird

The Rufous Bristlebird, Dasyornis broadbenti, is a medium-sized avian species, tipping the scales at around 77 grams. It boasts a predominantly brown plumage with a distinctive rufous hue adorning its head and ear coverts. The mantle, back, and neck are cloaked in dark brown with a subtle reddish tinge, while the rump radiates a red-brown vibrancy. Encircling the eye is a light grey marking that stretches towards the bill, and the eyes themselves are tinged with a reddish hue. The bird's legs and feet are cloaked in a dark brown or grey-brown.

Identification Tips

Upon closer inspection, one will notice the Rufous Bristlebird's whitish throat, adorned with dark scalloping, and a grey-brown breast, similarly patterned. The western populations exhibit white scalloping, contrasting with the darker scalloping found in the east. This species is comparable in size to the blackbird but is distinguished by its elongated tail, unique acoustic signals, and rufous coloration.

Habitat

The Rufous Bristlebird is known to inhabit dense shrublands and heathlands, thriving amidst a diverse array of plant species. It is also a common denizen of forests with a rich understory of bracken or shrubs.

Distribution

Endemic to Australia, the Rufous Bristlebird is found along the coastal regions of western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. Notable locations include the Murray River mouth in South Australia, and Portland and Port Fairy in Victoria.

Behaviour

This elusive bird is more often heard than seen, as it tends to dart in and out of dense understory, where it seeks refuge and sustenance. It is known to run or fly short distances, and its presence is typically revealed by its vocalizations rather than visual sightings.

Song & Calls

The Rufous Bristlebird is a vocal species with a repertoire of 12 to 30 different song types, which vary among individuals and are not shared between males and females. Neighboring males and females exhibit a high degree of song sharing, with males sharing about 65% and females about 59% of song types.

Breeding

The breeding season sees the Rufous Bristlebird constructing a domed nest close to the ground, woven from materials such as sword-sedge, rushes, grass, and twigs, and concealed within low shrubs. The female lays two dull-pinkish eggs adorned with blotches, with breeding occurring from spring to mid-summer.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Rufous Bristlebird primarily consists of seeds and small ground-dwelling invertebrates. It forages on the ground, amidst leaf litter, or in short shrubs, and has also been observed consuming terrestrial snails.

Conservation status

The Rufous Bristlebird is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, both subspecies in Victoria are listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. The western subspecies is considered extinct, with the last confirmed sighting in 1906. Habitat fragmentation due to coastal development poses a significant threat to the species.