Chiming Wedgebill

About the Chiming Wedgebill

The chiming wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis), 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 (Psophodes occidentalis) 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.

The chiming wedgebill is a monotypic species. The male chiming wedgebill weighs 38-45 grams and the female chiming wedgebill weighs 30-36 grams. The chest is forward-curving and the entire upper body is dark gray-brown, with the wings being a darker color. The tail is also dark gray-brown, but the tip of the tail is black. The tail contains a central pair of feathers with white tips. The chin, throat, and the center of the belly are grayish-white, and the belly and breast side are gray-brown ("little contrast with upperparts"). The undertail cover... Wikipedia →