Chirruping Wedgebill

1. Forward-curving dark crest, pale brown body, and white-tipped long tail

2. Faint streaks on the breast and repetitive, duetting “chirruping” call

3. Juveniles are paler with a lighter bill; males and females look similar

These birds forage mainly for seeds and insects on the ground or among low shrubs, often seen alone, in pairs, or small groups. Chirruping Wedgebills are famous for their antiphonal duets, where males and females exchange precisely timed calls, especially at dawn and dusk. Breeding occurs from March to May and August to November, and also after significant rainfall. Nests are shallow cups built in dense shrubs or mistletoe clumps, usually less than three metres above ground. Females lay two to three blue-green eggs with dark blotches; both parents likely share incubation, but specific roles are not well documented.

Chirruping Wedgebills are found in low, open shrublands across the Lake Eyre Basin, including southeastern Northern Territory, southwestern Queensland, northeastern South Australia, and northwestern New South Wales. They prefer dense, low vegetation such as bluebush, acacia, emu-bush, and lignum, especially around swamps and waterways. The species is patchily distributed but locally common where suitable habitat exists, and they are non-migratory, typically remaining close to their home territory