Black Grasswren (Amytornis housei)

Family
Maluridae (Fairy-wrens)

Size
18 - 21 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Milligan, 1902)

Derivation
A-my-torn'-is - Gk, amytis, daughter of Astyages; Gk, ornis, a bird: housei - Dr. F.M. House (1865 - 1936), naturalist and medical practitioner, WA

Habitat
Gullies, rocky ravines, gorges, hillsides, sandstone outcrops, escarpments and tumbled boulder-fields, usually with a sparse covering of trees over a dense layer of spinifex and a sparse scattering of shrubs.

Range (Guide)

Australia (B).

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status NT
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Usually in pairs or small groups.

Food
Seeds of grasses and sedges. Also insects.

Voice
Strong, harsh, continuous reeling. A sharp, arresting, chirping, ticking and grating.

(39Kb) © ? (1)

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

Black Grasswren (Amytornis housei) [XC324921]
by id from Little Merten Falls, Mitchell Plateau, Australia (call, song)

Nest
A bulky, domed structure, composed of spinifex stems and grass, lined with softer grass. with a funnel entry at one end.

Eggs (Guide)
2; slightly lustrous, white, sparsely spotted with fine grey, chestnut and dark brown; oval; 22 x 16 mm. Incubation: by female.

Young
Fed by both parents.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

References
See References.

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

Files:

JPG files for Black Grasswren (Amytornis housei) - 10 files

MP3 files for Black Grasswren (Amytornis housei) - 1 files

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