Mégalure brune

Identification

Male brown songlarks are 23–25 cm long versus 18–19 cm for females, and may weigh 2.3 times as much. The average weight of males was listed as 74.8 g (2.64 oz) and that of females is 32.4 g (1.14 oz). They are probably the most sexually dimorphic passerine in the world in size difference, as well as likely the largest species in the family Locustellidae. In general, the birds have a dusky pale-streaked with darker brown plumage and pale eyebrows. The underparts are brownish-white in the female, darker brown in the male. Breeding males may display a cinnamon colour. The eyes and bill are black, and the legs grey. Juveniles are smaller and paler with pinkish-brown bills. The call has been described as loud and creaky. The male is the principal singer, calling from perches or when rising above breeding territory.

Taxonomie

The brown songlark was described by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield as Megalurus cruralis in 1827. John Gould placed it in the genus Cincloramphus in 1843, describing it as C. cantatoris.However, the specific name of the former authors took priority. Along with most Old World Warblers, this species was formerly placed in Sylviidae sensu lato, but molecular phylogenetic studies demonstrated that this broad grouping is not a cohesive evolutionary lineage and warbler species were assigned to various families.<p>An alternative generic name Cinclorhamphus is derived from Greek words cinclus/κιγκλος "wagtail" and ramphos/ραμφος "beak" and cruralis from the Latin root crur- "leg, shin".

Nom scientifique

Cincloramphus cruralis

Autorité

(Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)

Ordre

Passériformes

Famille

Locustellidae

Genre

Cincloramphus

Répartition et habitat

The bird is found throughout Australia, except for parts of the far north and Tasmania. There are particularly dense populations in the southern parts of the country. It prefers open pastures and grassy scrub, and feeds on seeds and insects. The species is highly nomadic. Local numbers fluctuate depending on rainfall and the bird will often flee from drought-affected areas.<p>The brown songlark has a large range, between 1,000,000 and 10,000,000 km²; while population size has not been quantified the bird is reported to be common. The IUCN thus lists it as a species of least concern and it is considered "secure" by Australian authorities.

Aire de reproduction

AU : Australia (except far n and Tasmania), breeding mostly in s

Aire hors reproduction

to c Australia

Migration

Complete migrants

Conservation

Tendance de la population

stable