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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Maluridae
  4. ›
  5. Stipiturus
  6. ›
  7. Southern Emu-wren
Southern Emu-wren
Photo · Henrik Grønvold

BirdUp · Species

Southern Emu-wren

Stipiturus malachurus(Shaw, 1798)

Updated 21 March 2026

Also known asDjiddidi

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Maluridae
Genus
Stipiturus

At a glance

The Southern Emu-wren is a small bird, about 14–19 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
14–19 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Southern Emu-wren look like?

The Southern Emu-wren is a small bird, about 14–19 cm long and weighing 5–9 g.

The southern emu-wren is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and swamplands.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
14–19 cm
Weight
5–9 g
Wingspan
15 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Southern Emu-wren?

The Southern Emu-wren 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 Southern Emu-wren eat?

The Southern Emu-wren feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Southern Emu-wren live in Australia?

The Southern Emu-wren is endemic to Australia, recorded across 37 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning east and south Australia.

BreedingEast and south Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded