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17

Pilotbird

(Pycnoptilus floccosus)
Alternate name(s): "Downy Pycnoptilus", "Guinea-a-week"
Size: 16.5-17.5 cm
Weight: 25-39 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Pilotbird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "sandlandi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Pilotbird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2014]

Frontal view of a Pilotbird on Hawkesbury Sandstone (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Blackheath, NSW, April 2014]

Frontal view of a Pilotbird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Pilotbird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Pilotbird fluttering its wings (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Pilotbird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Lateral view of a Pilotbird; note how, characteristically, the bird carries its tail cocked (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Lateral view of a Pilotbird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Pilotbird with its tail cocked (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Food, Diet

This Pilotbird has found something interesting and is scraping the ground to expose it (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Some more digging is required... (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

... before the Pilotbird got its prey (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Off Wong Log Road, Mt. Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

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.

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