Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Locustellidae
  4. ›
  5. Poodytes
  6. ›
  7. Spinifexbird
Spinifexbird
Photo · John Gerrard Keulemans

BirdUp · Species

Spinifexbird

Poodytes carteri(North, 1900)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Locustellidae
Genus
Poodytes

At a glance

The Spinifexbird is a small bird, about 14–15 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
14–15 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Spinifexbird look like?

The Spinifexbird is a small bird, about 14–15 cm long and weighing 10–13 g.

The spinifexbird is endemic to inland Australia. Also known as Carter's desertbird, it is named after Thomas Carter, an English ornithologist and pastoralist active in Western Australia from 1887 to 1928.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
14–15 cm
Weight
9.8–12.5 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Spinifexbird?

The Spinifexbird 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

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Spinifexbird eat?

The Spinifexbird feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

2 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Spinifexbird in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Spinifexbird live in Australia?

The Spinifexbird is endemic to Australia, recorded across 28 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNorth-west WA to north-west QLD (north-central Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident

5 regions recorded