Carpentarian Grasswren — Australian Bird Identification Guide

Bird guideCarpentarian Grasswren

Small, long-tailed, brown-and-black-streaked bird with white throat, rusty flanks, and black moustache.

Spot this species Read on Wikipedia

⚠️Endangered

🌿Endemic to Australia

At a glance

FamilyFairywrens

SizeTiny

RarityRare

Habitatherbaceous graminoids sparse hummock grasses, shrubland, woody trees scattered, and sparse woodland

Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from May.

Sounds

Sound sample

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Recorded by Louis Masarei

Range map

Occurrence window

83visible hotspots

521visible records

1states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

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

Known from a few small areas from around Borroloola (Northern Territory) to near Mount Isa (Queensland), where large spinifex clumps grow in sandstone outcrops or stony hills. Frequent burning of these areas has made this species very hard to find.

Behavior

Usually seen foraging on the ground in pairs or small groups. Near Mount Isa, there is possible range overlap with Kalkadoon Grasswren (lacks the white throat; more uniformly brown).

Gallery

Regional timing

Queensland

Peak: May487 records

Northern Territory

Peak: August34 records

Commonly confused with

Kalkadoon GrasswrenAmytornis ballaraeSmall rusty-brown bird with finely streaked plumage and long cocked tail, found in rocky areas and gorges with spinifex clumps in the Mount Isa region of northwestern Queensland. Usually seen scampering around on the ground on rocky ledges and among boulders. Much more solidly built than fairywrens, and with fine white streaks on head and chest.→Purple-backed FairywrenMalurus assimilisSmall pale tips are sometimes visible on the tail. Over much of the species’s inland range, females are overall grayish birds with pale fronts and long blue tails; however, females of the subspecies found in the sandstone regions of the Kimberley and Arnhem Land have contrasting blue crowns and backs. This species occurs over much of arid inland Australia and is found in open vegetation.→