Dick-beaked grass hatchers

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Dick-beaked grass hatchers
Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Tails (Maluridae)
Subfamily : Amytornithinae
Genre : Grass hatchers ( Amytornis )
Type : Dick-beaked grass hatchers
Scientific name
Amytornis modestus
( North , 1902)

The Large-billed Grasswren ( Amytornis modestus ), also sometimes referred to as thick-billed grass singer called, is a passerine bird of the family of the Wrens (Maluridae). For a long time it was considered a subspecies of the barley grass hatchback ( Amytornis textileis ). After the differences between the two taxa were pointed out in studies from 2011 and 2016, it has been recognized as an independent species by the IOC, HBW Alive, the Clemens Checklist, BirdLife International and the IUCN since 2016.

description

The thick-billed grass hatchers reach a body length of 15 to 20 cm and a weight of 17 to 20 g. It is smaller than the closely related slick grass panther with a much shorter tail and a slightly deeper but shorter beak. The plumage is more blunt with less distinct dashes. The distinction between the subspecies is comparatively subtle. The nominate form Amytornis m. modestus was long-tailed, rather dark and lightly dashed. Amytornis m. indulkanna is lighter in color with a much shorter tail. Amytornis m. raglessi is similar to Amytornis m. indulkanna . However, this taxon has a longer tail. Amytornis m. curnamona is darker and more long-tailed than Amytornis m. raglessi . The extinct form Amytornis m. Inexpectatus had the longest tail of all subspecies, followed by the recent subspecies Amytornis m. obscurior . Amytornis m. cowarie is the lightest and least dashed subspecies. The thick-billed grass hatchers differ from the barbed grass hatchers by the weaker and low-contrast dashes on the underside and top, by the duller, gloomy, lighter brownish basic color of the plumage and by the reduced warm tones.

distribution

There are five recent and two extinct subspecies. Amytornis modestus modestus is now extinct and was found in the extreme south of the Northern Territory. Amytornis modestus indulkanna occurs in the extreme south of the Northern Territory as well as in northern and central South Australia. Amytornis modestus raglessi is native to the northern Flinders Range in southern South Australia. Amytornis modestus cowarie is found in the northeast of South Australia. Amytornis modestus curnamona occurs in the east of South Australia. Amytornis modestus obscurior occurs in the extreme northwest of New South Wales. Amytornis modestus inexpectatus is now extinct and was restricted to the western and central Murray-Darling Basins in northwest New South Wales.

Habitat and way of life

The habitat of the thick-billed grass slipper are dunes, coastal plains, sandy plains and acacia savannas with limestone floors. The eastern subspecies prefers to be found in savannahs with goosefoot family ( Chenopodium ), report ( Atriplex ) and salt plants of the genus Maireana . The thick-billed grass-hatcher's nest is built from plant material, especially dry grass and narrow strips of bark, and can be up to one meter above the ground. The entrance to the nest is within the highest vegetation. There are two breeding seasons. One is from March to May and the other is from August to January. The clutch consists of two to three light pink eggs that are speckled with reddish brown and gray.

The resident bird usually forages in the early morning or late afternoon. Its diet consists of seeds, berries and small beetles. The pairs can roam in areas of up to 40 hectares.

Danger

The IUCN lists the thick-billed hatchlings in the category “not endangered” ( least concern ). For the subspecies A. m. indulkanna and A. m. cowarie , a population density of 4 individuals per square kilometer is estimated. The thick-billed hatchback has suffered significant populations in New South Wales. While it was distributed in the past from eastern to central New South Wales, today only the subspecies A. m occurs in the extreme northwest of New South Wales . obscurior , which was thought to be lost between 1956 and 2008.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Black, A. 2011. Subspecies of the Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis modestus (Aves - Maluridae). Trans R. Soc. S. Aust. 135: 26-38.
  2. ↑ Black, AB (2016): Reappraisal of plumage and morphometric diversity in Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis modestus (North, 1902), with description of a new subspecies. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 136 (1): 58-68.