Photo: Mdekool / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pilotbird
Pycnoptilus floccosus
Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) is a member of the Acanthizidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 28.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Acanthizidae Australasian Warblers
- Genus Pycnoptilus
- Species floccosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pilotbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Pilotbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU se Australia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.9 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 7.2 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 245,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pilotbird?
The Pilotbird is a small bird that weighs around 28.9 g.
Where does the Pilotbird live?
The Pilotbird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU se Australia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Pilotbird belong to?
The Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) belongs to the Acanthizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pilotbird eat?
The Pilotbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pilotbird migrate?
The Pilotbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pilotbird endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Pilotbird make?
1 real field recording of the Pilotbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pilotbird's range?
The Pilotbird has a mapped global range of about 245,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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