Derivation
A-my-torn'-is - Gk, amytis, daughter of Astyages; Gk, ornis, a bird: merrotsyi - after Mr. A.L. Merrotsy, who collected the original specimen
Habitat
Stony hillsides, ridges, rocky gullies and gorges covered in spinifex, usually with an overstorey of trees, such as mallee eucalypt and cyprus pines, and shrubs.
Status NT
Habitat destruction and degradation through an increase in the frequency and extent of fires, both natural and anthropogenic, and grazing, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Insects, mainly beetles and ants, but also seeds of spinifex.
Voice
A squeak is uttered in alarm. Contact calls include a high-pitched 'see' and 'see-see'.
Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) [XC396946]
by Eric S. J. Tan from Mount Ive, Mount Ive Station, South Australia, Australia (song)
Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) [XC327192]
by Martin Cake from Flinders Ranges, South Australia, Australia (call)
Nest
Partly domed, composed of bark-fiber and dried blades of grass, built on a foundation of bark, in or under the shelter of a spinifex tussock, close to the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
Usually 2, sometimes 3; white, sparingly speckled and blotched with red-browns and greys, sometimes more at the larger end; swollen-oval; about 20 x 15 mm. Incubation: 13 - 14 days; by female.
Young
Altricial, nidicolous.
Subspecies
Amytornis striatus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Striated Grasswren (Amytornis striatus) and Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) following Christidis (1999).
Forms a superspecies with Striated Grasswren (Amytornis striatus). Until recently considered conspecific, but falls outside range of intraspecific variation found in latter species, and possibly sympatric with it in Gawler Ranges. Separation at species level further supported by protein evidence.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
merrotsyi Mellor, 1913 - Stony hillsides of Flinders and Gawler Ranges (South Australia).
Similar Species
Striated Grasswren (Amytornis striatus) which has a longer tail and Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus) which has a longer tail and lacks the black moustachial stripe.
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
BirdLife International Species Factsheet