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Shy Heathwren
(Hylacola cauta)
: "Shy Ground-wren", "Shy Scrub-warbler", "Shy Hylacola", "Mallee Heathwren"
Size: 11.5-14 cm
Weight: 13-16 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Shy Heathwrens are small bushland birds. They have a
dark olive-brown back, including the tail, which has a grey
terminal band. The rump is chestnut-brown. The front is
heavily streaked dark-brown on white, while the flanks and vent
are olive. The primaries are black with a prominent white
spot at their base. The tips of the outer tail feathers are
white.
Male
Shy Heathwrens have strong white supercilia and prominent
olive-brown lores.
Females
have duller colours, in particular they have a less contrasting
facial pattern and less prominent streaking down the front.
Juveniles
are duller yet, with an olive-brown back and head and a
chestnut-brown front without streaks. The belly is greyish.
Their only prominent feature is the white spot on the primaries
that are visible even when the wings are folded.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See
Shy Heathwren 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 global distribution of the Shy Heathwren is available
HERE
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There are 4 extant races of Shy Heathwrens, which are endemic to
southern Australia.
The range of nominate race
"cauta"
extends from far western VIC and the border region with far
south-western NSW into the southern part of SA, from the far
south-eastern part via the coastal fringe into the Nullarbor.
They are not found around Adelaide and to the North of the city,
and not on much of Yorke peninsula either.
Shy Heathwrens on Kangaroo Island form a separate race,
"halmaturina".
In central NSW, in a region spanning from Griffith to West Wyalong
and to the North of that line, from Lake Cargelligo to Nombinnie
Nature Reserve and Yathong Nature Reserve, race
"macrorhyncha"
is found.
Race "whitlocki" populates the south-western corner of WA,
from near Esperance, WA, in the East to
They are not found around Perth, WA, and from there to the
south-western tip of WA.
Shy Heathwrens can usually be found in
heath or
dense shrubby undergrowth of
mallee
woodland.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "cauta"
M. Eaton reports finding Shy Heathwrens, race
"cauta",
at Monarto Conservation Park, near Murray Bridge, SA, in April 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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Race "cauta"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Close-up near-frontal view of a male Shy Heathwren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Monarto Conservation Park, near Murray Bridge, SA, April 2022]
Close-up near-frontal view of a male Shy Heathwren issuing its
call
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Monarto Conservation Park, near Murray Bridge, SA, April 2022]
Close-up near-lateral view of a male Shy Heathwren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Monarto Conservation Park, near Murray Bridge, SA, April 2022]
Close-up lateral view of a male Shy Heathwren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Monarto Conservation Park, near Murray Bridge, SA, April 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 Shy Heathwren sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.
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.