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Rufous Bristlebird
(Dasyornis broadbenti)
: "Coorong Rufous Bristlebird", "Otways Rufous Bristlebird"
Size: 23-27 cm
Weight: 65-90 g
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Rufous Bristlebirds are about
thrush-sized birds.
The head is rufous, except for white lores and eye-rings.
The upperwings, rump and tail are rufous-brown.
The rest of the body (mantle and underparts) is more greyish.
Apart from very thin rufous loral stripes, Rufous Bristlebirds
have finely barred off-white-and-grey chin patches connecting
with the white lores.
While the mantle is only lightly scalloped grey, the underparts
are heavily scallooped greyish-brown and light-grey.
The irises are reddish. The fine, pointy bill is yellowish, with
dark-grey on the top of the upper mandible and the tip. Legs
and feet are grey.
Juveniles
show less colour contrast than
adults.
They are mainly washed buff, with a much more subdued facial
mask.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Rufous
Bristlebird at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Rufous Bristlebird is available
HERE
.
Rufous Bristlebirds are endemic to southern, coastal Australia.
There used to be 3 races, but the former race
"litoralis",
which existed along the coastline of south-western WA, is extinct.
Now there are two remaining races.
Their overall distribution is limited to the southern coastal fringe,
from near Geelong, VIC in the East to the eastern base of Eyre
Peninsula in SA.
Nominate race
"broadbenti"
is found from Portland, VIC, around Point Danger and Cape Nelson,
westward to the coastal
heath near
Hindmarsh Island, SA.
Race
"caryochrous"
occupies the area from Torquay, VIC, via the Otways, to Eumeralla (Yambuk)
Coastal Reserve, VIC.
Rufous Bristlebirds have a preference for coastal
scrub and
heath, also
gullies in dense coastal
forest.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "caryochrous"
M. Eaton reports finding Rufous Bristlebirds, race
"caryochrous",
at Point Addis, between Anglesea and Torquay, VIC, in April 2022.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has been kindly contributed by M. Eaton.
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Photos |
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Race "caryochrous"
This race is also called the "Otways Rufous Bristlebird".
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ADULT |
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Near-frontal view of a Rufous Bristlebird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Point Addis, VIC, April 2022]
Lateral portrait of a Rufous Bristlebird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Point Addis, VIC, April 2022]
Lateral view of a Rufous Bristlebird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Point Addis, VIC, April 2022]
Dorsal view of a Rufous Bristlebird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Point Addis, VIC, April 2022]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.