Coastal south-western Western Australia between Two Peoples Bay and Waychinicup, and in Fitzgerald River National Park. Small translocated population near Walpole (west of Albany) may now be extinct.
Population
Estimated population is 1,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Wildfire is main threat. Previously habitat destruction and degradation were factors but this is no longer a threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Usually in pairs, but occasionally singly or in small groups.
Food
Mainly invertebrates and seeds.
Voice
Quick, clear, silvery 'chip-pee-tee-peetle-pet'. A soft 'chip' and a louder 'zit' contact call. A high-pitched 'zeeat' alarm call when flushed.
Western Bristlebird (Dasyornis longirostris) [XC382678]
by Tom Tarrant from Arpenteur Nature Reserve, Cheynes Beach, Western Australia, Australia (song)
Western Bristlebird (Dasyornis longirostris) [XC566870]
by nick talbot from Nanarup, City of Albany, Western Australia, Australia (song)
Nest
Oval, with a side-entrance, composed of dried grass-stalks, lined with finer grass, placed in thick herbage near the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
2; dull buff with purple-brown blotches, especially at the larger end; oval; about 26 x 19 mm.
Young
Altricial, nidicolous.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
In past, sometimes treated as conspecific with Eastern Bristlebird (Dasyornis brachypterus).
Similar Species
Noisy Scrub-bird (Atrichornis clamosus) which has uniform dark brown upperpats, the male having a black patch on the upper breast and lacks the scalloping, and pale grey dappling.
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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BirdLife International Species Factsheet