Bristlebirds

The bristlebirds are a family of passerine birds, Dasyornithidae. There are three species in one genus, Dasyornis. The family is endemic to the south-east coastal regions and south-west corner of Australia, but each species occupies a mostly disjunct and restricted range of its own. They are primarily ground-scampering, though they can fly short distances, and it is primarily in dense coastal scrub that they forage on foot for their food. They are also more often heard than seen, having sweet and resonant calls with a metallica character; two of the three species are endangered.

The family now comprises three species: eastern, rufous and western bristlebirds. At least three subspecies have been identified in the family: the critically endangered northern subspecies monoides of the eastern bristlebird; the likely extinct dune-dwelling litoralis of the rufous bristlebird; and the newly-discovered subspecies caryochrous of the rufous bristlebird, which occurs in open eucalyptus forest with dense understorey in the Otway range.