Aust birds    Bird names   News   1-26    Habitats    Key plants    Glossary    Plumage    Nests    Tips    Thumbnails    Gen. info    Sponsors    Photos for sale   
NON-PASSERINES     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10     11     12     13     14 15     16     17     18     19     20     21     22     23     24     25     26     PASSERINES
Common names sorted alphabetically: A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   W   Y  

16

Dusky Grasswren

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

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Dusky Grasswren at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

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]

PAIR

Near-lateral view of a pair of Dusky Grasswrens, 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]

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.