Striated grasswren

Amytornis striatus

Photo by Gary Oliver (The Great Aussie Birdshoot)

Common name:
striated grasswren (en); carriça-australiana-estriada (pt); amytis strié (fr); maluro estriado (es); streifengrasschlüpfer (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Maluridae


Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found from New South Wales to Western Australia with a small separate population in Queensland.


Size:
These birds are 14,5-17,5 cm long and weigh 16-22 g.


Habitat:
These birds are mostly found in dry scrublands, often in arid sand plains and rocky hills, showing a preference for dense Triodia clumps.


Diet:
The striated grasswren feeds on the seeds of Triodia and various legumes, and also various arthropods including ants, beetles and spiders.


Breeding:
They can breed almost all year round, varying between different areas. The nest is a bulky dome with a side entrance, made of dry stems, bark strips and grass and lined with soft fibre, down and fur. It is typically placed inside a dense Triodia clump, 20-30 cm above the ground. The female lays 2-3 white eggs with red spots, which are incubated for 13-15 days. The chicks fledge 11-14 days after hatching. Each pair raises 1-2 broods per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
The striated grasswren has a large breeding range and is described as locally common to uncommon. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to clearing, over-grazing and inappropriate fire regime. Predation by feral carnivores is another problem affecting this species.