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Rufous Fieldwren
(Calamanthus campestris)
: "Rufous Calamanthus", "Rock Fieldwren",
"Rusty Fieldwren", "Desert
Fieldwren", "Sandplain Wren"
 Aboriginal name(s): "boolerdo" (WA)
Size: 11.5-13.5 cm; wing span 15.5-19.5 cm
Weight: 11-16 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Rufous Fieldwrens are small bushland birds.
Their plumage is
highly cryptic.
The cap is rufous, while the neck is more buff-grey. They have
prominent off-white supercilia and rufous eye-stripes that extend
far behind the eyes.
The front is creamy with sparse greyish-brown streaks on the chest.
Wings and mantle are brownish-grey, while the flight feathers have
darker grey centres.
The rump is rufous and the uppertail ranges from rufous at the base
to dark-grey. The outer tail feathers have white terminal spots.
The undertail coverts are creamy.
The only difference between the sexes is that
males
have off-white supercilia and throat patch, while the of
supercilia of
females
of race
"montanellus"
can be faintly yellow-tinged.
Both sexes have light-grey irises, a slender grey bill and dark-grey
legs and feet.
The rather short tail is usually held cocked.
Juveniles
have less colour contrast and finer streaking than
adults.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Rufous
Fieldwren 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 Fieldwren is available
HERE
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Rufous Fieldwrens are endemic to Australia.
There are 8 extant races of Rufous Fieldwrens; for details of their
distribution see a field guide. Their overall distribution ranges
from western WA (from Geraldton to the North-west Cape) inland,
towards the Nullarbor, but not the south-western corner of WA.
They are also found along the south-western SA coastal fringe,
on Eyre peninsula, and around Lake Eyre, which - together with
populations near the border region of SA with NSW and VIC, forms
the eastern edge of their range.
Nominate race
"campestris"
resides in near-coastal south-eastern WA, southern SA, including
Eyre peninsula, and on into a narrow strip across the three-state
border between SA and NSW/VIC.
Different races of Rufous Fieldwrens have preferences for a
range of different habitats, in both temperate and arid areas.
They can be found in
low shrublands,
samphire,
mallee
heathland,
Triodia ("Spinifex")
grassland and even
in dwarf
mangroves.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "campestris"
M. Eaton reports spotting Rufous Fieldwrens, race
"campestris",
at Port Wakefield, SA, 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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Race "campestris"
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ADULT |
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Close-up lateral view of a Rufous Fieldwren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Wakefield, SA, October 2022]
Close-up lateral view of a Rufous Fieldwren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Wakefield, SA, 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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
