1827 N. A. Vigors & T. Horsfield in 15 232 He [sc. Mr. Caley] calls it in his notes ‘Bristle Bird’.
1865 J. Gould I. 343 Sphenura longirostris... Long-billed Bristle-bird.
1911 A. H. S. Lucas & W. H. D. Le Souëf 330 The Bristle-birds have a shy disposition, and live in reed-beds and thickets.
1967 M. Sharland 177 Such species as emu, bristle-bird and two or three other ‘historical’ kinds.