From Opus

Alternative names: Eastern Wedgebill

Psophodes cristatus

[edit] Identification

19.5 - 20cm.

• Light brown crest and upperparts
• Light grey underparts with faint streaking on breast
• White edged wing feathers
• Wedge-shaped, black bill
• White-tipped, long tail

Sexes alike. Juveniles are paler and have fluffier plumage.

[edit] Similar species

The Chiming Wedgebill is almost identical and best told apart by voice and distribution.

[edit] Distribution

Found in Australia in southeast Northern Territory, southwest Queensland, northeast South Australia and northwest New South Wales.
Locally common but scattered throughout range.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.
Has been considered conspecific with Chiming Wedgebill and placed in the monotypic genus Sphenostoma.

[edit] Habitat

Dry open country with low shrubs.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects and some seeds.
Usually seen singly or in pairs and small groups. Rarely in mixed flocks. Forages on the ground and in low vegetation.
Breeding season from July to March, most eggs from August to December, possibly related to rainfall. It builds a saucer shaped nest and 2 or 3 pale blue, speckled eggs are laid.
The movements of this species are poorly understood. There are no large-scaled movements but it may be nomadic.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
3. Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID