Spinifexbird Spinifexbird

1. Long, drooping or upright tail, often held aloft while moving between spinifex tussocks

2. Plain brown plumage with a rich brown crown and golden-brown streaked wings

3. Distinctive, high-pitched, brief song delivered from atop spinifex or acacia shrubs

Spinifexbirds are solitary and sedentary, living in permanent pairs within established territories. They feed mainly on insects and seeds collected in spinifex grass. Their flight is weak and fluttering, with the tail trailing behind. Breeding occurs mostly from August to November, but may follow rainfall at any time. The female builds a shallow cup nest hidden deep within spinifex clumps and incubates a clutch of two eggs alone, while the male guards nearby. Both parents feed the young after hatching.

Spinifexbirds inhabit a wide band of mature spinifex (Triodia) grasslands across inland Australia, from near Hughenden in Queensland through the Northern Territory to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. They favour dense spinifex along creek lines, rocky foothills, and sheltered areas where grass grows thickest. The best chances of seeing one are at dawn or dusk, especially during the breeding season when males sing from exposed perches.