Habitat
Tall dense unburnt spinifex on sandplains, sand-dunes and swales, with a sparse cover of mallee eucalypts of low shrubs, including heath. Rarely in spinifex without a overstorey of trees or shrubs.
From coast of central Western Australia east, in a band between 18° and 28° south (mostly north of L Eyre, in South Australia), to western and central Queensland.
From mid-coastal Western Australia east across the interior of northern Australia into western Queensland, to about Opalton and Winton, and south to the Great Victoria Desert and the Simpson Desert.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Nest
Domed, with a side-entrance, composed of fine bark and grass bound with cobweb, lined with feathers or plant-down, well-hidden in a spinifex tussock.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 3; dull white, sparingly speckled and blotched pale red-brown, mostly at the larger end; long-oval; about 15 x 11 mm. Incubation: probably by female.
Young
Altricial, nidicolous.
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Southern Emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus) and Mallee Emu-wren (Stipiturus mallee). Often considered conspecific with Mallee Emu-wren (Stipiturus mallee), but protein evidence supports maintenance of the two as distinct species.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet