Derivation
Stip-it-ür'-us - L., stipes, stipitis, stem; Gk, ura (oura), tail: ru'-fi-ceps - L., rufus, red; ceps, from L., caput, capitis, head
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.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (Stipiturus ruficeps) [XC561451]
by id from Mount Zeil, Macdonnell Shire, Northern Territory, Australia (song)
Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (Stipiturus ruficeps) [XC186219]
by Mark Carter from Turee Creek Station, Western Australia, Australia (song)
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