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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Psophodidae
  4. ›
  5. Psophodes
  6. ›
  7. Chiming Wedgebill
Chiming Wedgebill
Photo · (c) Thomas Mesaglio, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Chiming Wedgebill

Psophodes occidentalis(Mathews, 1912)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Psophodidae
Genus
Psophodes

At a glance

The Chiming Wedgebill is a medium-sized bird, about 20–22 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
20–22 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Chiming Wedgebill look like?

The Chiming Wedgebill is a medium-sized bird, about 20–22 cm long and weighing 27–49 g.

The chiming wedgebill, sometimes referred to as chiming whipbird, is a species of bird in the family Psophodidae. It is endemic to Australia. The chiming wedgebill and chirruping wedgebill used to be considered one species until as late as 1973, when they were separated due to marked differences in their calls. Its sound consists of 4-6 descending notes sounding like loud chimes, and the final note is underlined and interpreted as "did-you-get-drunk" or "sweet-kitty-Lintorf". There is nothing documented about the female and male producing the same sound.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
20–22 cm
Weight
27–49 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Chiming Wedgebill?

The Chiming Wedgebill is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Donald Hobern · Hamelin, Western Australia, Australia

Call

Thomas Mesaglio · North West Coastal Highway, south of Hamelin Pool, Western Australia

Call

Julia Palmer · Flynn NT 0875, Australia

Call

Thomas Mesaglio · Yeo Lake Nature Reserve, Western Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Chiming Wedgebill eat?

The Chiming Wedgebill feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

2 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Chiming Wedgebill live in Australia?

The Chiming Wedgebill is endemic to Australia, recorded across 29 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingWest-central WA to south-east NT and central SA (west and central Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Non-breeding
  • Resident

5 regions recorded