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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Acanthizidae
  4. ›
  5. Pycnoptilus
  6. ›
  7. Pilotbird
Pilotbird
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Pilotbird

Pycnoptilus floccosusGould, 1851

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Acanthizidae
Genus
Pycnoptilus

At a glance

The Pilotbird is a small bird, about 17–19 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
17–19 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Pilotbird look like?

The Pilotbird is a small bird, about 17–19 cm long and weighing 19–39 g.

The pilotbird is a species of passerine bird in the family Acanthizidae. It is monotypic within the genus Pycnoptilus. The species is endemic to south-eastern Australia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
17–19 cm
Weight
19–39 g
Wingspan
23 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Pilotbird?

The Pilotbird 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

jimchurches · Bimberi, AU-NS-TT, AU-NS, AU

Call

Nina Kerr · Nadgee NSW 2551, Australia

Call

Nina Kerr · Narbethong VIC 3778, Australia

Call

jimchurches · Jamberoo NSW 2533, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Pilotbird eat?

The Pilotbird feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Pilotbird live in Australia?

The Pilotbird is endemic to Australia, recorded across 12 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning south-east Australia.

BreedingSouth-east Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Non-breeding

7 regions recorded