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Dusky Grasswren
(Amytornis purnelli)
: "Thin-billed Grasswren", "Dark Grasswren"
Size: 15-18 cm
Weight: 18-24 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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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.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Dusky
Grasswren at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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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.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Eaton reports finding Dusky Grasswrens
15 km East of Alice Springs, NT, in October 2022.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has been kindly contributed by M. Eaton.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Lateral view of a male Dusky Grasswren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[15 km E of Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]
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]
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FEMALE |
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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]
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PAIR |
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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]
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.