The New Britain thicketbird or Bismarck thicketbird is a bird species. It used to be placed in the "Old World warbler" family Sylviidae, but it does not seem to be a close relative of the typical warblers; probably it belongs in the grass warbler family Locustellidae. It is found only in the rarely visited highlands of the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea.
Region
Bismarck Archipelago
Typical Environment
Restricted to the highlands of New Britain, where it frequents dense thickets, secondary regrowth, bamboo tangles, and forest edges. It keeps close to the ground or within low understory, using cover to move quietly through vegetation. Ravines, landslips with regenerating scrub, and overgrown clearings provide suitable habitat structure. The species is considered highly localized and patchily distributed where dense cover is available.
Altitude Range
800–1800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as the Bismarck thicketbird, this elusive species inhabits dense montane scrub and forest edges on New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It belongs to the grassbird family Locustellidae and is notoriously difficult to observe, often detected only by its insect-like song. Very few records exist, and much of its ecology remains poorly known.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct between cover
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense thickets where it forages low. Likely builds a low, concealed nest in dense vegetation; clutch size is presumed small, as in related grassbirds. Territorial singing males may advertise from hidden perches within cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is an insect-like series of thin trills and reeling notes, often delivered from deep cover. Calls are soft ticks and high, sibilant chips, easily overlooked among forest sounds.
Plumage
Plain, earthy-toned plumage with slightly warmer rufous-brown upperparts and paler buff underparts; subtle, fine streaking may be present on the breast and flanks. Feathers appear soft and loose, aiding a cryptic, shadowy look in dense cover.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small insects, including beetles, ants, caterpillars, and other arthropods. It gleans from leaves, twigs, and litter, and may probe moss and bark crevices. Occasional small spiders and larvae are taken, with foraging focused at low levels.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory and scrub along forest edges, bamboo patches, and regenerating secondary growth. Often forages near the ground in shaded, tangled vegetation where prey is abundant.
