Grasswren


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This article is about a genus of Australian birds. For the species of South and Central American bird, see grass wren.

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

Grasswren
Striated grasswren (Amytornis striatus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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

Taxonomy and systematics

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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.

The genus contains the following 14 species:[2]

Image Common Name Scientific name Distribution
  Grey grasswren Amytornis barbatus New South Wales/Queensland
Black grasswren Amytornis housei Western Australia.
White-throated grasswren Amytornis woodwardi Northern Territory.
  Carpentarian grasswren Amytornis dorotheae Northern Territory/northwest Queensland.
  Short-tailed grasswren Amytornis merrotsyi South Australia
  Pilbara grasswren Amytornis whitei west Western Australia
Sandhill grasswren Amytornis oweni central Western Australia to central Queensland and northwest South Australia
Opalton grasswren Amytornis rowleyi Queensland, Australia
  Striated grasswren Amytornis striatus South Australia and Victoria
  Eyrean grasswren Amytornis goyderi Central Australia
  Western grasswren Amytornis textilis northwest Western Australia and South Australia
  Thick-billed grasswren Amytornis modestus New South Wales and South Australia
  Dusky grasswren Amytornis purnelli Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.
  Kalkadoon grasswren Amytornis ballarae western Queensland

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

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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]

  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. ^ a b 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.