Mégalure striée

Identification

The striated fieldwren is a small bird, 140mm in size. It is light brown and olive-colored, with a white stomach, and black streaks all over. Its tail is cocked and whitish with black and brown streaks.<p>The striated fieldwren's front is buff with dark gray and brown streaks; their wings are also brown and gray but with darker and bolder streaks. The bird's flight feathers, however, do not have streaks. Instead, they have fine light gray edges. A whitish line over the eye can also be found on the striated fieldwren.<p>Striated fieldwrens can be difficult to spot as they forage quietly in thick vegetation or on the ground. If approached, the bird's tail will elevate and sometimes move side to side, while continuing its song until it feels trapped, then it will fly away and relocate.

Taxonomie

Nom scientifique

Calamanthus fuliginosus

Autorité

(Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)

Ordre

Passériformes

Famille

Acanthizidés

Genre

Calamanthe

Répartition et habitat

Striated fieldwrens are more easily observed in the springtime even though they can camouflage themselves in the vegetation. The small olive-brown bird inhabits locations of dense heath, grassland, and salt marsh. Striated fieldwrens are commonly found in the coastal areas of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. The striated fieldwren is now known as a vulnerable species, as their habitats have been lost to land clearance and degradation. Due to habitat intervention, their presence is commonly recorded in national parks and reserves. They have been known to locally move in New South Wales. Striated fieldwrens can be found alone, in pairs, or in family groups in the low bushes and shrubs of these areas.

Migration

Resident species

Conservation

Tendance de la population

declining