Grasswren

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Grasswren
Striated Grasswren (Amytornis striatus) on branch from front.jpg
Striated grasswren (Amytornis striatus)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Maluridae
Genus: Amytornis
Stejneger, 1885
Type species
Malurus textilis [1]
Dumont, 1824
Species

see text

Synonyms
  • Amytis Lesson 1831
  • Diaphorillas
  • Magnamytis

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

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

Amytornis is the only genus classified within the subfamily Amytornithinae, and form a separate clade to the related fairy-wrens and emu-wrens within the family Maluridae. The genus contains 14 species, many of which are poorly known due to their secretive nature and remote and inaccessible habitat.

Extant species

The genus contains the following 14 species: [2]

ImageCommon NameScientific nameDistribution
Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus).jpg Grey grasswren Amytornis barbatusNew South Wales/Queensland
Black grasswren Amytornis houseiWestern Australia.
White-throated grasswren Amytornis woodwardiNorthern Territory.
Amytornis dorotheae 77542177 (cropped).jpg Carpentarian grasswren Amytornis dorotheaeNorthern Territory/northwest Queensland.
Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi).jpg Short-tailed grasswren Amytornis merrotsyiSouth Australia
Sandhill Grasswren 0A2A4965.jpg Pilbara grasswren Amytornis whiteiwest Western Australia
Sandhill grasswren Amytornis owenicentral Western Australia to central Queensland and northwest South Australia
Opalton grasswren Amytornis rowleyiQueensland, Australia
Striated Grasswren Scotia Station NSW Dan Eyles.jpg Striated grasswren Amytornis striatusSouth Australia and Victoria
Eyrean Grasswren female in Sturt National Park.jpg Eyrean grasswren Amytornis goyderiCentral Australia
Amytornis textilis - Thick-billed Grasswren.jpg Western grasswren Amytornis textilisnorthwest Western Australia and South Australia
Thick-billed Grasswren (cropped).jpg Thick-billed grasswren Amytornis modestusNew South Wales and South Australia
Captive Dusky Grasswren at Alice Springs Desert Park.jpg Dusky grasswren Amytornis purnelliNorthern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.
Amytornis ballarae 77542098 (cropped).jpg Kalkadoon grasswren Amytornis ballaraewestern Queensland

Description

Grasswrens are the largest members of the Australasian wren family, ranging from 15 g (0.53 oz) for the Eyrean grasswren to the 35 g (1.2 oz) white-throated grasswren. They generally have long tails and legs and short wings and are adapted for life foraging on the ground. The bill is typically shorter and narrower than the fairy-wrens and emu-wrens, which reflects the larger part that seeds play in their diet. The plumage of the grasswrens is cryptic, usually red, buff and brown patterned with white and black. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Grasswrens are endemic to Australia. They inhabit remote arid or semi-arid regions of the continent in the interior and north. Species typically occupy small ranges as well. Most species of grasswrens inhabit habitat dominated by spinifex. They are often found in hilly areas dominated by rocks, which provides them with prey as well as shelter, particularly thermal shelter from extremes of heat or cold. [3]

References

  1. "Maluridae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  2. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Lyrebirds, scrubbirds, bowerbirds, Australasian treecreepers, Australasian wrens". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 Rowley, I.; Russell, E. (2017). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A.; de Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Fairy-wrens (Maluridae)" . Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 26 July 2017.

Further reading