Coastal southern Australia, from Fraser Island, Qld to the Houtman Albrolhos Group of Islands, WA, except for a region of the Great Australia Bight. Also in Tasmania.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Habits
Usually singly or in pairs, and occasionally family parties or loose groups.
Food
Seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants. Also native fruits and berries.
Voice
A repeated, 'hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo', each call growing slightly higher and quicker with building excitement. A short, fast, 'whooo', lacking the slight downward slur of the Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera).
Brush Bronzewing (Phaps elegans) [XC755214]
by Marc Anderson from Cox Scrub Conservation Park (near Ashbourne), Alexandrina Council, South Australia, Australia (call)
Brush Bronzewing (Phaps elegans) [XC603327]
by Iain Woxvold from Goldie Bushland Reserve, Macedon Ranges Shire, Victoria, Australia (song)
Nest
Saucer-shaped, composed of twigs, in a thick bush or in the branches of a fallen tree, or on the ground in the shelter of a bush.
Eggs (Guide)
2; smooth, glossy, white; oval or ellipsoidal; about 33 x 25 mm. Incubation: 15 - 18 days; by both sexes, female broods by day.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in 17 - 20 days.
Subspecies
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
elegans (Temminck, 1809) - South-eastern Queensland (Fraser I) south to south-central South Australia (Eyre Peninsula) and Tasmania.
occidentalis Schodde, 1989 - South-western western Australia from Dongara to vicinity of Point Culver.
Similar Species
Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) which is slightly larger, not as plump and less compact, with longer, less-rounded wings and a longer tail.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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