Pilotbird
Pycnoptilus floccosus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyAcanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
- GenusPycnoptilus
- SpeciesPycnoptilus floccosus (Pilotbird)
About the Pilotbird
The pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) 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. The species was first described by English ornithologist John Gould in 1851. The generic name Pycnoptilus derives from the Ancient Greek pyknos 'thick' and ptilon 'feather'. Its specific epithet floccosus is Late Latin for 'flocked with wool'. There are two subspecies: the nominate subspecies Pycnoptilus floccosus floccosus lives in alpine areas; and P. f. sandfordi lives in lowland forest.
The pilotbird is a large, plump species of acanthizid, measuring around 18 centimetres (7.1 in) in length and weighing 27 grams (0.95 oz). The plumage of the underparts is reddish-brown with scalloping on the chest and the centre of the belly speckled dull white. The upperparts are chocolate-brown.
The bill is short and finely pointed. Its tail is broad and semi-erect, and flicked up and down when feeding. The pilotbird is found from the Wollemi National Park and Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales through to the Dandenong Ranges... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Pilotbird in Kosciuszko National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kosciuszko National Park
Brown Thornbill
Acanthiza pusilla
White-browed Scrubwren
Sericornis frontalis
Striated Thornbill
Acanthiza lineata
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Buff-rumped Thornbill
Acanthiza reguloides
Weebill
Smicrornis brevirostris
Calamanthus pyrrhopygius
Calamanthus pyrrhopygius
White-throated Gerygone
Gerygone olivacea
Speckled Warbler
Pyrrholaemus sagittatus
Yellow Thornbill
Acanthiza nana
Western Gerygone
Gerygone fusca
Brown Gerygone
Gerygone mouki
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pilotbird in Kosciuszko National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Pilotbird sighting in Kosciuszko National Park, based on 194 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pilotbird in Kosciuszko National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Pilotbird in Kosciuszko National Park in our monthly data.