Chirruping wedgebill | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Psophodidae |
Genus: | Psophodes |
Species: | P. cristatus |
Binomial name | |
Psophodes cristatus (Gould, 1838) | |
The chirruping wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus) is a medium-sized member of the genus Psophodes , which consists or four to five songbirds endemic to Australia. [2] Commonly found in low shrublands in south-eastern inland Australia, [3] the species is distinguished by its distinctive, chirruping call. [3] The chirruping wedgebill and chiming wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis) were considered to be a single species until as late as 1973, when they were separated due to marked differences in their calls. [3]
John Gould originally described P. cristatus and P. occidentalis as one species (Sphenostoma cristatum), [4] and this remained common practice until c. 1973. [5] The separation of the species at that date was based mainly on differences in song and range. [3]
The chirruping wedgebill is a medium-sized bird, measuring approximately 18–21 cm and weighing 31-64 g. [3] Its bill is dark and wedge-shaped when mature, and horn-coloured when immature. It possesses a slim upright crest, and long rounded tail. [3] [6] Adult plumage consists of pale brown upperparts, with white/pale grey underparts. Flight feathers are edged with white, and the tail is coloured dark black-brown with a white tip. Immature individuals possess similar plumage, the only key differences being buff-tipped flight feathers, unlike the white tips of the mature individual. [3] [6]
This bird is often misidentified as the chiming wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis). Key identifying features include the faint breast streaking, slightly longer tail, and repetitive chirruping call. [3] [6]
The distinctive call of this species is described as an Antiphonal duet. Accounts of the call differ slightly. Pizzey and Knight describe the male as calling ‘sitzi-cheeri’ (similar to the budgerigars rolling chirrup), while the female replies with an upward rolling ‘r-e-e-e-t CHEER’. [6] The call is described by Simpson and Day, however, as “sparrow-like and repetitive. Male ‘chirrrp’, female response of ‘ee cheer’.” [7]
The chirruping wedgebill is found throughout south-eastern inland Australia, inhabiting low, open shrublands with acacia species. [3] [6] Distribution is patchy, but where found, the species is usually locally abundant. Though the species covers a large area, it is rarely found in the southern part of its range. It tends to favour areas with vegetation of bluebush, acacia stands, emu bush and lignum species. [3]
The chirruping wedgebill is territorial throughout the year. Adults are generally sedentary, with small flocks of up to 20 birds being regularly recorded. [3] [8] Juvenile birds tend to be more widely dispersed, sometimes forming loose foraging flocks of up to 100 individuals, that wander over greater distances than the adults. [8] The species is unobtrusive and reserved (though less shy than the chiming wedgebill), except when calling. While foraging, individuals make short flights (small flutters and glides) or run between cover. [3] The species is non-migratory. [9]
The chirruping wedgebill feeds predominantly by foraging for seeds and insects. [3] [5] [8]
The species has several breeding seasons throughout the year: from March to May, and August to November, as well as after rain. The nest consists of a loose, shallow cup of grass, twigs and bark (lined with smaller, fine material). It is generally built in the fork of a dense tree, shrub or mistletoe, generally no more than three metres above the ground. [3] [8] Two to three blue-green eggs with sparse dark blotches are laid at a time. The eggs are of a tapered-oval shape, measuring approximately 24 x 17 mm. Incubation length is unknown. The life span of this species is approximately 6.4 years. [9] It is not known if the sexes possess different roles in food collection or parenting.
The chirruping wedgebill is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. [1]
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Psophodidae is a family of passerine birds native to Australia and nearby areas. It has a complicated taxonomic history and different authors vary in which birds they include in the family. In the strictest sense, it includes only the 5 or 6 species of whipbirds and wedgebills, but some authors also includes at the quail-thrushes (Cinclosoma), 8 species of ground-dwelling birds found in Australia and New Guinea, and the jewel-babblers (Ptilorrhoa), 3 or 4 species found in rainforest in New Guinea. Others place them in their own family, the Cinclosomatidae. The Malaysian rail-babbler was formerly sometimes placed in this family, which would then be called Eupetidae.
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Psophodes is a genus of five species of songbirds endemic to Australia, known as whipbirds and wedgebills.
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The chiming wedgebill, sometimes referred to as chiming whipbird is a species of bird in the family Psophodidae. It is endemic to Australia. The chiming wedgebill and chirruping wedgebill were considered a single species until as late as 1973, when they were separated due to marked differences in their calls.
Wedgebill or wedge-bill is a common name for several birds and may refer to