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Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli) Alternate name(s): "Thin-billed Grasswren", "Dark Grasswren" Size: 15-18 cm Body mass: 18-24 g

Australia: Family Group 16 Family Group 16 Table Purple-crowned Fairy-wren White-winged Fairy-wren Splendid Fairy-wren Superb Fairy-wren Variegated Fairy-wren Purple-backed Fairy-wren Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Lovely Fairy-wren Red-winged Fairy-wren Red-backed Fairy-wren Southern Emu-wren Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Carpentarian Grasswren Eyrean Grasswren Striated Grasswren Thick-billed Grasswren Western Grasswren Dusky Grasswren Kalkadoon Grasswren Grey Grasswren Black Grasswren Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Dusky Grasswrens are grey-brown birds with long tails. Their cryptic plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are slightly different. Both sexes have a dull-brown front and a darker, greyish-brown back. The head, chest and mantle are coarsely streaked grey. The wings and tail are dark greyish-brown. The only visible difference between the sexes is that males have unmarked flanks, whereas females have inconspicuous rufous flank spots. The irises of both sexes are dark-brown. The bill is grey; legs and feet are dark-grey. Juveniles have duller colours and less streaking than adults.

Taxonomy, classification See Dusky Grasswren at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The overall distribution of the Dusky Grasswren is available HERE . Dusky Grasswrens are endemic to Australia. As is the case with all species of grasswrens, their overall distribution is complex, patchy and highly irregular. Some races also have very restricted ranges. This is mainly caused by the fact that grasswrens are rather poor fliers and individual populations, once separated, will not merge again, leading to a separation of the gene pools.Dusky Grasswrens have a limited range, stretching from the central NT, around Tennant Creek, to north-eastern SA and far-western WA, near the border of the 3 states, in a patchy distribution. Dusky Grasswrens have a strong preference for the ranges of central Australia, living mostly along rocky slopes in open woodland with Triodia ("Spinifex") undergrowth. They do not occur at the base of such rocky ridges, in gullies or valleys, even when offering good ground cover.

Sightings Click here for sighting information M. Eaton reports finding Dusky Grasswrens 15 km East of Alice Springs, NT, in October 2022. Another mob was found at Watarrka (Kings Canyon), George Gill Range, NT, in June 2023. All sighting and photographic information presented on this page has been kindly contributed by M. Eaton.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Near-lateral view of a pair of Dusky Grasswrens
Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Note the female's rufous flank spot, far right, that is not present in the male at front left.
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Lateral view of a pair of Dusky Grasswrens, now with a second female in tail moult on the right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

MALE

Near-frontal view of a male Dusky Grasswren; note the absence of a rufous flank spot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Watarrka (Kings Canyon), George Gill Range, NT, June 2023]

Near-lateral view of a male Dusky Grasswren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Watarrka (Kings Canyon), George Gill Range, NT, June 2023]

Lateral view of a male Dusky Grasswren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Dusky Grasswren that certainly looks more chestnut than dusky... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Watarrka (Kings Canyon), George Gill Range, NT, June 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Dusky Grasswren issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Watarrka (Kings Canyon), George Gill Range, NT, June 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a male Dusky Grasswren looking backwards at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Dusky Grasswren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a male Dusky Grasswren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Dusky Grasswren - note the rufous flank spots (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Close-up frontal view of a female Dusky Grasswren looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Near-frontal view of a female Dusky Grasswren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Near-frontal view of a female Dusky Grasswren looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of a female Dusky Grasswren looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Family clan

Food, Diet

Male Dusky Grasswren in pursuit of a spider (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Watarrka (Kings Canyon), George Gill Range, NT, June 2023]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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