Western Bristlebird (Dasyornis longirostris)

Western bristlebirds (Dasyornis longirostris) belong to the family Dasyornithidae. Western Australia’s coastal heaths (east and west of Albany) are home to this endemic species. A divergence of 15.1 million years ago separated this family from its closest relatives. Originally found around the southwest coast of Perth, the Western Bristlebird is now restricted to a few stands of wet, low heath near Two Peoples Bay, Fitzgerald River National Park, and Mount Manypeaks in Albany.

After European arrivals, large-scale clearing of western bristlebird habitat and increased fire of coastal heaths have undoubtedly contributed to its decline. The species has become very rare in recent years. The Western Bristlebird lives almost entirely within the cover of heathy undergrowth, nesting, roosting, and feeding there. Occasionally, they hop up to sing on a twig in the top of vegetation, as well as from shrubbery, but only briefly, as their songs are short and infrequent.

Due to clearing and burning, the Western Bristlebird has become localized. They spend more than 60 percent of their time in a core area of one-three hectares, or about six hectares, where they have established permanent territories. Rarely are they separated by more than 50 to 100 meters as they move around their territory together.

It is rare for territories to overlap and boundary disputes to occur. Nest-building, egg incubation, and chick feeding by each sex are unknown. In the months following the chick’s departure from the nest, the chick likely stays with the parents.

Western bristlebirds consume insects and seeds that have gathered on the ground. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, they feed on tracks or other open areas. In addition to their quick and alert movements, they are able to run very fast if disturbed, and they can raise and fan their tails. Usually, they land on the ground within five to ten meters of the heath if they are forced to fly. Their flight abilities are limited.

The birds sing throughout the year, increasing their output only slightly during breeding season. It is believed that one bird, the male, will provide a chip pee tee peeble pet in a round of roughly ten repetitions, while the other will respond somewhat less than 60 percent of the time with an incongruent two- or three-note quick more beer. During times of stress, one bird may use both calls. There is a harsh, sharp zeet in the alarm and a soft zit in the call of the Western Bristlebird. In spite of this, the song is loud, variable, and penetrating—wooa-weet sipping.

There is a similarity between the sexes. Its upper parts are brown mottled gray over its crown and mantle, and its rump is rufous-brown with a pale buff eyebrow. The underparts of the bird are grey-brown, with a dusky edge to the throat and breast feathers. The flanks are dark brown. There is a reddish brown color to the eyes. The bill is dusky in color. The feet are grey-brown in color. In immature stages, the upper parts are olive-brown with no spotting; the underparts are gray.

Nesting and breeding take place between August and September. It has a domed shape and is constructed of coarse, dry grasses with a fine grass lining. The nest has a large side entry. Nests are hidden among tussocks of grass, sword grass clumps, or small dense shrubs close to the ground. The Western Bristlebird measures between 180 and 200 mm in length. It is also known as a long-billed bristlebird. It has a slight difference from the Eastern Bristlebird.

The Western Bristlebird lays two eggs, the bigger of which is pale buff with bands of red and purple-brown, 26 x 19 mm oval. In its natural habitat, the bird lives in temperate shrubland from Two Peoples Bay to Fitzgerald River National Park, WA. Loss of habitat poses a threat to it. Its historical range contraction was mainly attributed to wildfires, which are the primary threat to the species.

Degradation of habitat has been caused by introduced animals and habitat loss has been caused by grazing and agriculture. Fire protection is implemented throughout the range of this species, and all populations have been surveyed. Because all populations are now inside protected areas, their habitats are not being degraded as much as they were in the past.