A flat-crowned, plain brownish bird with a long tail found in arid spinifex/tussock grassland in inland Australia.
WA: Endangered
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyGrassbirds and Allies
SizeSmall
RarityUncommon
HabitatA flat-crowned, plain brownish bird with a long tail found in arid spinifex/tussock grassland in inland Australia.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from May to August.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Christopher Watson
Range map
Range map
850visible hotspots
5721visible records
3states
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
Fairly secretive and skulking but inquisitive.
Behavior
Compare Australian Reed-Warbler and Tawny Grassbird, both species of much wetter grasslands, not spinifex habitats. Song is a variety of chirped phrases, similar to reed warblers.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Western Australia
Northern Territory
New South Wales
South Australia
Commonly confused with
Rufous SonglarkCincloramphus mathewsiSimilar female White-winged Triller has white-edged wing panel. Brown Songlark larger, with longer legs and bill and more strongly patterned upperparts. Found across much of Australia, less so in the southeast, in treeless open habitats.→Tawny GrassbirdCincloramphus timoriensisIt is streaked above and has a distinctive rich brown cap. Its underside is paler and it has a long graduated tail. The term "grassbird" was used by Gould during the mid 19th century to signify a strong correlation to long grass habitats. The tawny grassbird has also been known as tawny sphenoeacus, grassbird, tawny or rufous-capped marshbird, rufous-capped grass-warbler and rufous-capped grassbird.→Little GrassbirdPoodytes gramineusStreaked back, flanks, and breast; graduated tail often cocked upright. Usually detected by song, a clear, high-pitched, three-noted whistle.→