/
Large brown songbird with long tail and long, strong legs.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Mulaydjalbii
At a glance
FamilyGrassbirds and Allies
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatGrassland, Herbaceous Graminoids Sparse Hummock Grasses, Shrubland, and Sparse woodland
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from September to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
7620visible hotspots
47303visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Males grayish with brown-edged feathers above, and very dark gray belly, breast, and face in breeding plumage. Female smaller, similar to nonbreeding male. Perches on fence posts. Distinctive song a scratchy five-note phrase.
Behavior
Distinctive display flight: male climbs high in the air, then parachutes down with wings held up at an angle and with legs dangling. Found across much of Australia, less common in the southeast in drier agricultural and open grassland areas.
Gallery