Chirruping Wedgebill
Psophodes cristatus· 啸冠鸫科(1 photos)
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Chirruping Wedgebill
19-21 cm. Bill dark, wedge-shaped, brown; plumage pale brown, slim upright crest, slight dark breast streaks; flight feathers edged white; tail longish, rounded, blackish brown, tipped white; legs/feet strong. Immature: bill horn-coloured, wing feathers edged buff. Pairs, parties, loose flocks: runs rather than hops. Parties follow-the-leader, with long flat glides, tails part-spread. Often remains calling on shrub-top when approached.
- Voice
- duet: one bird calls 'sitzi-cheeri', like Budgerigars' rolling chirrup; female(?) answers with upward-rolling 'r-e-e-e-t CHEER!'; combined in endless rondo, echoed by others, effect unusual.
- Habitat
- arid country with low saltbush, bluebush, emu bush; acacia scrubs; lignum-cane-grass on watercourses.
- Breeding
- Aug.-Nov., and after rains.
- Nest
- loose cup of twigs; 1-3 m in low shrub.
- Eggs
- 2-3; pale green-blue, with grey, purplish, black spots, hieroglyphs.
- Range & Status
- e. inland Aust.: from near Port Augusta (SA), n. to c. Oodnadatta, w. of L. Eyre, to Simpson Desert in ne. SA-se. NT; e. through s. Flinders Ras. (SA); widespread NSW w. of Darling R.; in Q, e. to Cunnamulla, n. to Charleville-lower Diamantina R. Locally common.
