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Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(Stipiturus ruficeps)
Size: 12-13 cm; tail length 6.5-7.5 cm
Weight: 4-7 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Although, by virtue of their long, wispy tail, not the shortest birds
in Australia by length, Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens are the smallest by
body weight.
The plumage
of Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are slightly different.
Male
Rufous-crowned Emu-wrenss have blue feathers around their eyes and a blue
"bib",
females
don't.
Otherwise the two sexes are identical. The top of the head, from frons
to the nape of the neck, is rufous, while the ear coverts are dark-grey
with some white streaking.
The front is warm buff, while the back and wing coverts are brown, boldly
streaked dark-grey.
The long, wispy tail is brown.
Both sexes have dark irises. The
males' bill is
black, while
females
have a grey bill with a darker tip.
The legs and feet are the colour of skin.
Juveniles
closely resemble
adults
with slightly paler colours.
Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens are unusual in that their
juveniles
are already dimorphic.
Juvenile males
have a faint-blue bib but no blue around the eyes, while
juvenile females
don't have a bib.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Rufous-crowned
Emu-wren 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
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The global distribution of the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren is available
HERE
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Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens are endemic to Australia. Their overall
distribution is patchy. Their range extends from the North-west
Cape via the Pilbara and central WA into the southern half of the
NT and on to far-western QLD, up to about Opalton, WA. There are
no recent reports from northern SA, which was formerly part of
their range.
Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens have a strong preference for habitats
dominated by tall, dense, unburnt
Triodia ("Spinifex") grass.
They can be found both in plains and along rocky hill slopes, where the
Triodia ("Spinifex") grass
is mixed in with low
shrubs.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Eaton reports finding a family clan of Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens
near Opalton, QLD, in June 2021 and again in August 2022.
All sighting, photographic and audio 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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Frontal view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]
Near-frontal view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]
Near-lateral view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]
Lateral view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]
Near-dorsal view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren issuing its
call
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]
Dorsal view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, June 2021]
Dorsal view of a male Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Rufous-crowned Emu-wren sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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.