Striated Grasswren
Amytornis striatus
Small, long-tailed bird with black moustache and rufous-brown upperparts, found only in the Murray-Mallee region of South Australia and Victoria, where it is the only expected grasswren. Found in mallee woodland and dunes with large spinifex clumps, where it scurries around on the ground and low branches. Upperparts rusty-brown, with a white throat and buff-colored underparts.
Identification
The striated grasswren is one of 13 species in the genus Amytornis, commonly known as the grasswrens, found only in arid and semi-arid areas of Australia. All are small cryptic birds with long, usually cocked-tails, characterised by diagnostic distinctive interscapular gap in the feathering, an enlarged auditory bulla (tympanic chambers) and ten rectrices. The striated grasswren is a slim, long-tailed grasswren with a slender pointed bill. The plumage is highly variable across its range, suited to local soil and rock colour; birds are slightly sexually dimorphic; females have a brighter rufous flank-patch. All populations are soft red-brown above, streaked white; an orange-buff eyebrow and fore-supercilium; white throat; bold black submostachial stripe; and buffish underbody.Like other grasswrens they have short rounded wings and are unable to undertake long flights, typically flitting or hopping from perch to perch within vegetation, and run or hop when on the ground in a series of fast jerky movements. While closely related to the familiar fairy-wrens (Malurinae) striated grasswrens are larger (17-20g c.f. 6-16g), and more sombrely coloured, with varyingly prominent white streaking on varying shades of brown, rufous and black plumage.Striated grasswrens are usually seen as pairs, but sometimes as individuals, and often in small groups of up to five birds, which are unobtrusive, shy, and typically difficult to approach, often first detected by their calls. When breeding, birds may be inquisitive of intruders of their territory.
Taxonomy
The striated grasswren (Amytornis striatus) is a Passeriform in the Maluridae Family, which is shared with the familiar Australian and New Guinean fairy-wrens. It is one of 13 species of grasswren currently recognised in the subfamily Amytornithae, all within the Genus Amytornis, and confined to mainland Australia. The species was first described by John Gould in 1840 from a specimen collected on the Liverpool Plains of NSW.The scientific name of this species translates the genus Amytornis from Greek ‘Amytis bird’ Amytis being an ancient Persian female name with no direct link to the species, while ornis translates to ‘bird’ directly from Greek. The specific name refers to the heavily streaked upperparts, from Modern Latin striatus striped, streaked, which is in turn from Latin stria, a line.
- Scientific name
- Amytornis striatus
- Authority
- (Gould, 1840)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Maluridae
- Genus
- Amytornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Familiar Chat
Oenanthe familiaris
A plain gray-brown chat that has rusty ear patches and a rufous rump and outer tail feathers that outline an inverted black “T” pattern on the tail. The juvenile is spotted and scaled buff. The species occurs in a broad range of habitats, but favors rocky areas, gullies, outcrops, and buildings, where it often perches conspicuously. It drops to the ground or into a bush to feed on invertebrates and frequently flicks both wings simultaneously and lifts its tail. The similar Sickle-winged Chat has longer legs, a more conspicuous eye-ring, a creamy-orange rump, and a different tail pattern; Brown-tailed Chat also has a different tail pattern.
Pompadour Cotinga
Xipholena punicea
Medium-sized, plump bird of rainforest canopy. Spectacular male is unmistakable, with shimmering pure white wings visible at a great distance. Female much duller; best identified by dumpy shape and overall plain gray coloration, and at close range—pale eyes. Often seen at fruiting trees, perched high on leafless branches or snags, or flying over the forest canopy. Also occurs on lower-stature forests with sandy soils. Display sound of male is a hollow, unbirdlike rattle; display rarely seen.
Eurasian Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Small falcon with distinctive male plumage: gray head, rusty back, gray tail with broad black tip. Female is brownish above, with barring on the back, wings, and tail. Note rather pointed wingtips (unlike rounded wings of Accipiter hawks), and distinct dark spotting on the breast. Inhabits open and lightly wooded country, farmlands, grasslands, and heathlands; often seen over grassy areas beside roads and at airports. Perches on wires and posts, and typically hunts by hovering, at times fairly high overhead. Very similar to Lesser Kestrel.
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