Eyrean grasswren

Last updated

Eyrean grasswren
Eyrean Grasswren female in Sturt National Park.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Maluridae
Genus: Amytornis
Species:
A. goyderi
Binomial name
Amytornis goyderi
(Gould, 1875)
Eyrean grasswren distribution.jpg
Distribution of the Eyrean grasswren in Australia
Synonyms

Goyder’s grasswren (obsolete) [2]

The Eyrean grasswren (Amytornis goyderi) is a small grasswren from the Passerine family Maluridae. [3] [4] [5] This is a cryptically plumaged [6] [7] and uncommon bird endemic to arid regions of Central Australia. [8] The species was discovered by F.W. Andrews in 1874 around the Macumba River at Lake Eyre, and named after the South Australian Surveyor General George Woodroffe Goyder. [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Contents

Description

At 14–16.5 cm in length, Amytornis goyderi is the smallest grasswren. [4] It has a deep, finch-like bill. There are some minor differences between sexes, and between populations across the distribution.

Illustration by John Gould and W. Hart Amytis goyderi - The Birds of New Guinea (cropped).jpg
Illustration by John Gould and W. Hart

Adult male

The head is reddish with bold white streaks, neck and upper body dull to bright rufous-brown, streaked with fine dark and white lines. The face is mainly white except for the rufous forehead, white lores and a thin partial white eye-ring beneath the eye; and sometimes a rufous fore-supercilium. Black and white ear coverts separate the dark head parts from the off-white chin and throat. The tail is dark grey-brown with off-white shafts and light brown fringes. Upperwings are also dark grey-brown, but with prominent white shafts and narrow rufous-brown fringes to the secondary coverts and tertials; and fine light brown edges to the other remiges, producing rufous-brown patches when the wing is folded. The underbody is white with buff-brown wash on the flanks through to the legs and underside of tail. The bill is light grey to blue-grey with a darker grey culmen, and the iris is dark to olive-brown. The legs and feet are purplish to dark grey. [4] [6] [13] [15] [16]

Female

Identical to males but the flanks are a brighter rufous-brown, and not as distinctly pale compared to the upperparts. The legs may be a slightly paler grey with stronger purplish tinge. Females are slightly smaller overall and have a finer bill. [4] [15]

Nestling, fledgling and juvenile

Nestlings are naked with dark grey down on the head and wings. [6] The bare skin is mostly pink with dark blue-grey skin around the eyes. [4] Newly fledged birds have lemon or yellow gape-flanges. Partial moult begins soon after fledging, producing similar patterns to adult male but upperparts are much duller and browner, with less distinct streaking and facial patterns. They are fluffier which can give a mottled appearance around the face and ear coverts. The eye is olive and the bill is light grey, lacking the dark culmen and brown tip seen in the adult male. In young birds the skull is not fully pneumatised. [13]

Systematics and taxonomy

The Eyrean grasswren was originally described by John Gould in 1875, who named it Amytis goyderi. [15] Gould assumed it was related to the western grasswren (A. textilis) due to similarities in plumage characters. During the 20th century, various authors placed it in clades derived from either A. textilis or A. striatus, [14] [17] [18] considering it closely related to either A. modestus [17] or A. striatus. [14] [19] With the development of molecular studies, it was found that A. goyderi belongs in a clade with A. ballarae and A. purnelli which appears to have evolved from a common ancestor with A. textilis. [7] [20]

Evolutionary history

There are two possible explanations for grasswren diversity in Central Australia: Either they originated there, [17] or they colonised it. [20] The close relationships between A. goyderi and other central taxa indicate that they arose there in the last 100000 years as glaciation events influenced the vegetation structures in Central Australia. A. goyderi is one of very few avian species to evolve in a minor ecological refuge. [21]

Distribution

A. goyderi has a patchy, [14] restricted distribution, [20] found only in dune fields of the Simpson and Strzelecki deserts of Central Australia. These deserts are located in the Birdsville Structural Basin, an enormous drainage basin centring on Lake Eyre. [8] Most populations are found in South Australia from north of Cameron Corner to Witjira National Park; [4] with some in SW Queensland [12] and the Northern Territory. [4] It is likely that populations are plastic, being most abundant when canegrass is plentiful and withdrawing to refuges during drought. [14]

Habitat

The Eyrean grasswren habitat consists of sandhill canegrass (Zygochloa paradoxa) tussocks on large, loosely sanded dune crests and slopes; as well as in speargrass ( Aristida holathera), spinifex ( Triodia spp.) and dune pea ( Swainsona rigida) where it grows among Z. paradoxa. [4] [13] Typical landscapes consist of tussocks ranging from 1-4m high and 2-3m in diameter, spaced well apart and with bare ground between them. [4] [6] The birds rarely stray from dune slopes; [13] but are sometimes observed in swales. [4]

Behaviour

No extensive surveys of Eyrean grasswren behaviour have been undertaken, but it is thought to be sedentary. [4] They are usually found in singles and pairs, or small groups of up to ten. It is cryptic, remaining hidden within Z. paradoxa tussocks, and is difficult to flush. [6] [13] Flight is rare, [14] but when flushed the birds bound with wings half spread between tussock clumps [6] or fly short distances of up to 10m with the tail trailing. [4] They use a distinctive "half running, half flying" movement low to the ground, bounding and flying for short distances of 40–220 cm. Movements are quick and furtive with the tail usually held cocked. They sometimes perch low (c. 1 m) on grevillea branches, [13] canegrass or other shrubs. [4]

Diet

Prey consists of about equal amounts of vegetation and invertebrates. [4] Specimen stomach contents include seeds from grasses Z. paradoxa and Aristida holathera, as well as remnants of numerous invertebrate species. [13] [22] Individuals move with small hops while foraging between clumps of spinifex (Triodia spp.) and within clumps of dune pea ( Swainsona rigida). It will sometimes skip backwards and shuffle the feet to uncover food items in the sand. [4]

Reproduction

Very little is known about the mating habits of A. goyderi. [4] No information exists on laying or incubation durations. Nests containing nestlings and eggs have been located from July [4] to September [6] [13] and dependent fledglings from May to September. [4] Clutches are 2-3 broadly oval eggs with slight variations in shape. [4] [13] It is assumed to be monogamous and to breed throughout the range. [4]

Females are responsible for nest construction, which takes about one week to complete. [4] Nests are wedged into tussock stems close to the ground (usually <1m height) in clumps of Z. paradoxa and Australian boxthorn (Lychan austral). [4] [6] The nest consists of a truncated cup or dome of varying dimensions made from grasses such as A. holathera with Z. paradoxa strands woven in to the base, while an inner cup consists of finer grass and sometimes downy plant material or spider silk. [4] [6] [13] Nests are well spaced but may be more densely aggregated in patches of good habitat. [4]

Vocalisations

Contact calls are made throughout the day, usually given as call and response. [4] Adults of both sexes sing, which may function in territorial defence or maintaining group cohesion. Songs are performed from low perches or on the ground, and may increase in frequency during the breeding season. The songs are "distinctive", consisting of "beautiful silvery cadences, pip trills and long bursting staccatos" [4] which may sometimes be meshed together in excited bursts. [13] These may be heard up to 100m away, while the quieter contact calls can be heard from 30-40m. [4] Alarm calls are high and sharp, and are louder than the contact call.

Conservation

A. goyderi was listed by the IUCN as threatened in 1988, [1] and as special concern by the Royal Australian Ornithologist's Union in 1992 [23] as further research was required. [24] The IUCN currently lists it as least concern since the species is not thought to be declining and probably fluctuates due to seasonal cycles. [1]

Threats include any species or processes affecting the quality of sandhill canegrass habitat such as erosion driven by grazing rabbits, camels and livestock. [4]

Ornithological history

The first record of A. goyderi came from an expedition by J.W.Lewis into the arid northern regions of South Australia in 1874, resulting in the collection of six specimens obtained near the Macumba river on Lake Eyre. [4] [11] [12] Two of these specimens were forwarded by the curator of the South Australian Museum F.W.Andrews, to John Gould who described them in 1875. These were later given to the British Museum of Natural History, however the remainder were lost. [9] A third specimen was found in the Dobroyde collection housed at the Australian Museum in Sydney; [11] although it is now thought that this is not one of the missing type specimens. [25] No further specimens were obtained until a century after Lewis’ expedition when two were acquired in Qld in 1976. [12] A second expedition later that year resulted in 19 specimens, 3 nests and 2 eggs. [13] Prior to then, numerous specimens were misidentified. [18] [26]

In the time since May's observations at Poeppel's Corner the species has been located many times. However, due to the cryptic nature of the species and the remoteness of its distribution very little research into the behavioural habits has been undertaken. [4] Some attempts to trap the bird failed as they are so small, they were able to pass through mist nets. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australasian wren</span> Family of birds

The Australasian wrens are a family, Maluridae, of small, insectivorous passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. While commonly known as wrens, they are unrelated to the true wrens. The family comprises 32 species in six genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey grasswren</span> Species of bird

The grey grasswren is a passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is found on arid inland floodplains of Australia where it is endemic. The grey grasswren is a rarely seen elusive bird that was first sighted in 1921 but not taxonomically described until 1968. Its greyish coloration and very long tail distinguish it from all other grasswrens. While some recent research has been conducted, there still remain many gaps in the knowledge about the ecology of this cryptic bird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grasswren</span> Genus of birds

Grasswrens (Amytornis) are a genus of birds in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black grasswren</span> Species of bird

The black grasswren, known as dalal to the Wunambal people, is a species of bird in the family Maluridae. It is endemic to Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky grasswren</span> Species of bird

The dusky grasswren is a species of small passerine bird in the family Maluridae. The species is endemic to Australia but is limited to inland areas of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striated grasswren</span> Species of bird

The striated grasswren is a small, cryptically coloured ground-dwelling species of wren-like bird in the family Maluridae, endemic to Australia. It occupies a large discontinuous range across arid and semi-arid areas of western, central and southern Australia where it is associated with spinifex (Triodia) grass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thick-billed grasswren</span> Species of bird

The thick-billed grasswren is a species of bird in the family Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-crowned fairywren</span> Species of bird

The orange-crowned fairywren is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is monotypic within the genus Clytomyias. It is found on New Guinea in its natural habitat of subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristlebird</span> Family of birds

The bristlebirds are a family of passerine birds, Dasyornithidae. There are three species in one genus, Dasyornis. The family is endemic to the south-east coast and south-west corner of Australia. The genus Dasyornis was sometimes placed in the Acanthizidae or, as a subfamily, Dasyornithinae, along with the Acanthizinae and Pardalotinae, within an expanded Pardalotidae, before being elevated to full family level by Christidis & Boles (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovely fairywren</span> Species of bird

The lovely fairywren, or lovely wren, is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to northeastern Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emperor fairywren</span> Species of bird

The emperor fairywren is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is found in New Guinea in its natural habitat of subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is the largest species of fairywren. It is highly sexually dimorphic. Males have a blue and black plumage, with the females having blue and black plumage only on their heads, with the rest of the body being coloured a rusty brown and having a black tail tipped with white. There are 3 recognized subspecies of the emperor fairywren, one from north and northwestern New Guinea, one from Biak Island, and one from south New Guinea and the Aru Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-winged fairywren</span> Australian species of bird

The white-winged fairywren is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It lives in the drier parts of Central Australia; from central Queensland and South Australia across to Western Australia. Like other fairywrens, this species displays marked sexual dimorphism and one or more males of a social group grow brightly coloured plumage during the breeding season. The female is sandy-brown with light-blue tail feathers; it is smaller than the male, which, in breeding plumage, has a bright-blue body, black bill, and white wings. Younger sexually mature males are almost indistinguishable from females and are often the breeding males. In spring and summer, a troop of white-winged fairywrens has a brightly coloured older male accompanied by small, inconspicuous brown birds, many of which are also male. Three subspecies are recognised. Apart from the mainland subspecies, one is found on Dirk Hartog Island, and another on Barrow Island off the coast of Western Australia. Males from these islands have black rather than blue breeding plumage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-backed fairywren</span> Passerine bird in the Australasian wren family

The red-backed fairywren is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia and can be found near rivers and coastal areas along the northern and eastern coastlines from the Kimberley in the northwest to the Hunter Region in New South Wales. The male adopts a striking breeding plumage, with a black head, upperparts and tail, and a brightly coloured red back and brown wings. The female has brownish upperparts and paler underparts. The male in eclipse plumage and the juvenile resemble the female. Some males remain in non-breeding plumage while breeding. Two subspecies are recognised; the nominate M. m.melanocephalus of eastern Australia has a longer tail and orange back, and the short-tailed M. m. cruentatus from northern Australia has a redder back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strong-billed honeyeater</span> Species of bird

The strong-billed honeyeater is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is one of two species of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitat is temperate forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emu-wren</span> Genus of birds

The emu-wrens (Stipiturus) are a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. They are found only in Australia, where they inhabit scrub, heathland and grassland. They are small birds, 12–19 cm long with the tail accounting for over half of their length. The tail has only six feathers which are loose and coarse in structure, rather like the feathers of the emu. Three species are recognised, of which the mallee emu-wren is endangered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallee emu-wren</span> Species of bird

The mallee emu-wren is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-crowned emu-wren</span> Species of bird

The rufous-crowned emu-wren is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia.

Leslie Christidis, also simply known as Les Christidis, is an Australian ornithologist. His main research field is the evolution and systematics of birds. He has been director of Southern Cross University National Marine Science Centre since 2009. He was assistant director at Sydney's Australian Museum from 2004 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western grasswren</span> Species of bird

The western grasswren, also referred to as the thick-billed grasswren and, formerly, as the textile wren, is a species of bird in the family Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia. It was formerly lumped as the nominate subspecies of the thick-billed grasswren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-backed fairywren</span> Species of bird

The purple-backed fairywren is a fairywren that is native to Australia. Described by Alfred John North in 1901, it has four recognised subspecies. In a species that exhibits sexual dimorphism, the brightly coloured breeding male has chestnut shoulders and azure crown and ear coverts, while non-breeding males, females and juveniles have predominantly grey-brown plumage, although females of two subspecies have mainly blue-grey plumage. Distributed over much of the Australian continent, the purple-backed fairywren is found in scrubland with plenty of vegetation providing dense cover.

References

  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2016). "Amytornis goyderi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22703795A93937263. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22703795A93937263.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (May 1978). "Recommended English names for Australian birds" (PDF). Emu. 77 (May Supplement): 245–307. doi:10.1071/mu9770245s.
  3. Christidis, Lee; Boles, Walter (2008). Systematics and taxonomy of Australian birds. Collingwood, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Higgins, P.J.; Peter, J.M.; Steele, W.K. (2001). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds: Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats. Oxford, England.: Oxford University Press.
  5. Rowley, I.; Russel, E. (2007). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 12. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. p. 530.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Morgan, D.G.; Morgan, L.R.; Robinson, L.N.; Robinson, P.A.; Ashton, D.H. (1961). "The Eyrean grass-wren (Amytornis goyderi)". Australian Bird Watcher. 1 (6): 161–171.
  7. 1 2 Christidis, L.; Rheindt, F.E.; Boles, W.E.; Norman, J.A. (2010). "Plumage patterns are good indicators of taxonomic diversity, but not of phylogenetic affinities, in Australian grasswrens Amytornis (Aves: Maluridae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 57 (2): 868–877. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.08.029. PMID   20816977.
  8. 1 2 Schodde, R.; Christidis, L. "Short communication: Genetic Differentiation and Subspeciation in the Grey Grasswren Amytornis barbatus (Maluridae)". Emu. 87: 188–192. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.569.7526 . doi:10.1071/mu9870188.
  9. 1 2 Campbell, A.J. (1923). "The Long-lost Eyrean Grass Wren". Emu. 23 (2): 81. doi:10.1071/mu923081.
  10. Condon, H.T. (1951). "Notes on the birds of South Australia: Occurrence, distribution, and taxonomy". South Australian Ornithology. 20: 26–28.
  11. 1 2 3 Hindwood, K.A. (1945). "The Eyrean Grasswren (Amytornis goyderi) A Third Specimen" (PDF). Emu. 44 (4): 321–323. doi:10.1071/mu944321.
  12. 1 2 3 4 May, I.A. (1977). "Recent re-discovery of the Eyrean grasswren Amytornis goyderi (Gould, 1875)". Emu. 77: 230–231. doi:10.1071/mu9770230.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Parker, S.A.; May, I.A.; Head, W. (1978). "Some observations on the Eyrean grasswren". Records of the South Australian Museum. 17 (24): 361–371.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schodde, R. (1982). The Fairy-wrens: A Monograph of the Maluridae. Melbourne: Lansdowne Editions.
  15. 1 2 3 Gould, John (1875). "Further contributions to the Ornithology of Australia". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Series 4. 16 (94): 285–287. doi:10.1080/00222937508681849.
  16. Rowley, I.; Russell, E. (1997). Bird Families of the World. IV. Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens. Oxford University Press. pp. 233–236.
  17. 1 2 3 Keast, A. (1958). "Speciation in the genus Amytornis Stejneger (Passeres: Muscicapidae, Malurinae) in Australia". Australian Journal of Zoology. 6 (1): 33–52. doi:10.1071/zo9580033.
  18. 1 2 Parker, S.A. (1972). "Remarks on distribution and taxonomy of the grass wrens Amytornis textilis, modestus and purnelli". Emu. 72 (4): 157–166. doi:10.1071/mu972157.
  19. Ford, J. (1974). "Speciation in Australian birds adapted to arid habitats". Emu. 74 (3): 161–178. doi:10.1071/mu974161.
  20. 1 2 3 Christidis, L. (1999). "Evolution and biogeography of the Australian grasswrens, Amytornis (Aves: Maluridae): biochemical perspectives". Australian Journal of Zoology. 47 (2): 113–124. doi:10.1071/zo98054.
  21. Ford, J. (1987). "Minor Isolates and Minor Geographical Barriers in Avian Speciation in Continental Australia". Emu. 87 (2): 90–102. doi:10.1071/mu9870090.
  22. Barker, R.; Vestjens, W. (1984). The food of Australian birds. II. Passerines. Melbourne: CSIRO. pp. 130–131.
  23. Garnett, S. (1992). Threatened and extinct birds of Australia. Melbourne: Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union and Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service.
  24. Reid, J.; Fleming, M. (1992). "The conservation status of birds in arid Australia". The Rangeland Journal. 14 (2): 65–91. doi:10.1071/rj9920065.
  25. Longmore, N.W. (1991). "Type specimens in the Australian Museum" (PDF). Technical Reports of the Australian Museum. 4. doi: 10.3853/j.1031-8062.4.1991.75 . Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  26. Black, A.A.; Longmore, N.W. "Notes on Grasswren Eggs in Len Harvey's Collection". Australian Field Ornithology. 26 (4): 132–141.