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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Maluridae
  4. ›
  5. Amytornis
  6. ›
  7. Grey Grasswren

BirdUp · Species

Grey Grasswren

Amytornis barbatusFavaloro & McEvey, 1968

Conservation status: Near ThreatenedOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Maluridae
Genus
Amytornis

At a glance

The Grey Grasswren is a small bird, about 18–21 cm long, listed as Near Threatened and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
18–21 cm
Conservation status
Near Threatened
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Grey Grasswren look like?

The Grey Grasswren is a small bird, about 18–21 cm long and weighing 15–23 g.

The grey grasswren is a passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is found on arid inland floodplains of Australia where it is endemic. The grey grasswren is a rarely seen elusive bird that was first sighted in 1921 but not taxonomically described until 1968. Its greyish coloration and very long tail distinguish it from all other grasswrens. While some recent research has been conducted, there still remain many gaps in the knowledge about the ecology of this cryptic bird.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
18–21 cm
Weight
15–23 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Grey Grasswren?

The Grey Grasswren is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Grey Grasswren eat?

The Grey Grasswren feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Grey Grasswren live in Australia?

The Grey Grasswren is endemic to Australia, recorded across 6 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning east-central Australia.

BreedingEast-central Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Non-breeding

4 regions recorded