Tropical Scrubwren (Sericornis beccarii) [XC436588]
by Phil Gregory from Cook's Hut Camping Area, Iron Range National Park, Queensland, Australia (call)
Tropical Scrubwren (Sericornis beccarii) [XC158179]
by Phil Gregory from Iron Range NP, Queensland, Australia (song)
Nest
Dome-shaped, with a side-entrance, composed of leaves and rootlets, lined with tendrils and a few feathers, in a scrubby tree near the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 4; lustrous pale purple-brown, minutely speckled dark brown in a zone at the larger end; long-oval; about 19 x 15 mm.
Young
Altricial, nidicolous.
Subspecies
Part of a species group that also includes Large Scrubwren (Sericornis nouhuysi), Perplexing Scrubwren (Sericornis virgatus) and Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra). Sometimes treated as conspecific with Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra), and in north-eastern Australia subspecies dubius apparently intergrades extensively with latter in extreme south of range (Cooktown south to R Bloomfield, in northern Queensland). Generally, however, differs significantly from it in vocalizations and behaviour, and in plumage of most subspecies. Often treated as conspecific with Perplexing Scrubwren (Sericornis virgatus), and a number of as yet unnamed forms from Bomberai Peninsula (Fakfak Mts, Kumawa Mts) and from eastern New Guinea (Mt Bosavi/L Kutubu) may belong with either species. In other areas, however, the two seem to behave as separate species, replacing each other altitudinally. Intergrades with Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra) known from Mt Bosavi, where specimen from 750 m typical of present species, while from 1520 m one specimen almost typical of Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra) and another intermediate between the two (most resembling present species). Specimen from 1450 m on nearby Mt Sisa is also intermediate, but closer to Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra). There may be both montane and lowland cryptic species involved. Genetic and vocal studies required in order to help in unravelling relationships in this complex of poorly known taxa.
In Australia, subspecies minimus and dubius integrade in Iron Ranges region. Subspecies dubius apparently intergrades extensively with Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra) in the Cooktown - Helenvale region.
The following 11 subspecies are recognised:
beccarii Salvadori, 1874 - Aru Island.
minimus Gould, 1875 - Northern Cape York Peninsula south to Watson and Pascoe - Lockart Rivers.
dubius Mayr, 1937 - Eastern Cape York Peninsula from Lockart - Pascoe Rivers south to Princess Charlotte Bay and round the coast to Endeavour River.
randi Mayr, 1937 - Southern New Guinea (Trans-Fly lowlands).
wondiwoi Mayr, 1937 - Wandammen Peninsula (Wondiwoi Mts), in north-western New Guinea.
weylandi Mayr, 1937 - Western New Guinea (Weyland Mts).
idenburgi Rand, 1941 - North-western New Guinea (Gauttier Mts and slopes above R Idenburg).
cyclopum Hartert, 1930 - Cyclops Mts, in northern New Guinea.
imitator Mayr, 1937 - North-western New Guinea (Arfak Mts). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Perplexing Scrubwren (Sericornis virgatus).
boreonesioticus Diamond, 1969 - North-eastern New Guinea (Bewani Mts, Torricelli Mts, Prince Alexander Mts). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Perplexing Scrubwren (Sericornis virgatus).
pontifex Stresemann, 1921 - Victor Emanuel Mts, Hunstein Range, and Sepik Mts (Lordberg), in north-central New Guinea. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Perplexing Scrubwren (Sericornis virgatus).
Notes
It is reported to hybridize with subspecies viridor, of Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra).
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