Pilotbirds (Pycnoptilus floccosus) can be found in a diverse range of suitable habitats from coastal woodlands to the alps. They are more often heard than seen with a distinctive “Guinea-a-week” call, which for a small bird is quite loud and far carrying, alerting us to their presence in usually dense vegetation. They are mostly ground dwelling birds raking ground litter with their strong legs and feet to reveal food. They can sometimes be found foraging with Lyrebirds scavenging morsels turned up by the much larger bird.
The origin of the name Pilotbird according to Fraser and Gray “… comes from a confusion of cause and effect. The bird follows Superb Lyrebirds and benefits from the leftovers of the vigorous scratchings; observers thought that they were guiding the bigger bird”.
Another name derivation is found in the Morcombe Field Guide to Australian Birds, ‘its far-carrying calls ‘piloted’ bushmen searching for lyrebirds” (male lyrebird tail feathers were once prized for use on women’s hats).
Recently - quite by chance, we found two Pliotbirds at Cape Conran just above the beach in dense coastal scrub heavily shaped by strong winds and salt spray. While assessing the terrible impact of the 2019/20 fires, the call gave away their presence. Fortunately some surviving pockets of unburnt scrub provided refuge for these small weak-flying birds. These survivors will now be able to re-populate the recovering areas which should in time provide suitable habitat for Pilotbirds.
Please click on photos to enlarge.
At first the bird appeared quite close in a tangle of branches where it moved about giving brief photo opportunities.
The bird then flew to a Coast Banksia where some longer shots were possible in a more open setting.
My last photo seemed to suggest the bird had had enough of me!
