Pilotbirds are small, plump, ground-dwelling birds, about 18 cm long with a wingspan and weight of around 23 cm and 27 g, respectively. Sexes are similar and do not display seasonal variation. Adults are large headed with cinnamon frons, amber eyes and slender, pointed, dusky bills. Their upperparts are a deep rufous-brown, while their tails are long, broad, and wedge-tipped. The species’ throat, breast and underbelly are cinnamon, scalloped brown. Their lower underparts are dull white, and they have brown flanks and rufous tail coverts. Pilotbirds have characteristically large, strong feet. Juveniles are similar to adults but have darker foreheads, darker and richer russetbrown underparts, and a prominent pale gape.
Pilotbird |
Pycnoptilus floccosus
Status: Vulnerable on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Pycnoptilus floccosus
As well as climate induced fire impacts; there is some evidence that a warming climate is already affecting Lowland Pilotbirds at lower altitudes near Melbourne (Loyn et al. 2021).
Climate change increases the potential for extreme wildfires (Di Virgilio et al. 2019).
Fire risk will continue to escalate in the future without sustained and substantial efforts to tackle climate change (Climate Council 2019).
Climate change Increased frequency or Status current future Since the mid 1990s; southeast Australia has length of droughts Confidence known experienced a 15 decline in late autumn and early winter rainfall; and a 2 decline in Consequence moderate average rainfall in April and May (Climate Trend increasing Council 2018).
Additionally; drought makes vegetation more flammable; and therefore more likely to support extreme fire behaviour (Climate Council 2019).
It also makes vegetation more susceptible to spot fires ahead of the main fires when weather conditions deteriorate (high temperatures; low relative humidity; strong winds) (Climate Council 2019).
Temperature extremes Status current future Since 1950; the annual number of record hot Confidence inferred days (above 35 C) across Australia has more than doubled (Climate Council 2014) and the Consequence unknown mean temperature has increased by about Trend increasing 1.4 C from 1910 (IPCC 2021).
Heatwaves also exacerbate drought; which in turn can also increase bushfire risk (Climate Council 2014).
Threats There were no substantive threats to the Pilotbird until a combination of extended drought and exceptional heat provided impetus for fire that burnt large parts of the habitat with high severity in January 2020 (Loyn et al. 2021).
Table 1 Threats impacting Pilotbird Threat Status and severity a Evidence Fire Altered fire regimes Status current future Increase in frequency; extent or severity of Confidence known wildfire is the main threat faced by Pilotbirds across its range; as it causes direct loss of Consequence major habitat and individuals (Loyn et al. 2021).
For Trend increasing example; it has been estimated that Upland Extent across the entire Pilotbirds experienced a decline of 30 range (potentially as much as 45 ; which was the lower 80 confidence bound) one year after fire (Legge et al. 2021).
The 2019 2020 bushfire heavily impacted south eastern Australia; though unburnt habitat fragments remain within the fire affected area.
Threats There were no substantive threats to the Pilotbird until a combination of extended drought and exceptional heat provided impetus for fire that burnt large parts of the habitat with high severity in January 2020 (Loyn et al. 2021).
Both increased temperatures and drought are likely to increase in frequency and intensity in the future; as will the risk of extreme fires.
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