RUFOUS-CROWNED EMU-WREN

Photographed near Alice Springs May 2016

785            RUFOUS-CROWNED EMU-WREN             Stipiturus ruficeps

Australia         (629)

Biggest of the Em-wrens, 12-13 cm, including tail 6.5-7.5 cm. Found in spinifex, on sides/gullies of rocky ridges, with sparse shrubs. Range: arid inland, e. to Winton-Fermoy-Opalton (Q); in NT n. to Frewena-Wauchope, s. to james Ra., McDonnell Ras., Simpson Desert; in WA extends to w. coast, near NW Cape, n. to c. 20 degrees South in Gt Sandy Desert, s. to E. Murchison district-Kathleen Valley-Naretha and n Gt Victoria Desert and nw SA. Local, sedentary.

MALLEE EMU-WREN

Photograph near the Nowingi Track, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria February 2016.

757             MALLEE EMU-WREN              Stipiturus mallee

Australia            (601)

Found in spinifex, with mallee gums, native cypress, on sandhill swales, slopes; also tall heathland with tea-tree, broom, fringe-myrtle, spinifex. 13-15 cm, incl. tail (8-9 cm). Range: region s. of Murray R. in NW Vic.-se SA: from Hattah-Kulkyne NP (Vic) s. to Wyperfield NP-Big Desert Wilderness; w. into SA, from c. Nadda-Peebinga s. to Ngarkat Cons. Park, n of Keith, w. to Carcuma Cons. Park, ne of Cooalpyn.

SOUTHERN EMU-WREN

543         SOUTHERN EMU-WREN            Stipiturus malachurus

Australia          (384)

Also known as Button-grass Wren and Stickball. 15-19 cm, incl. tail 9-12 cm. Found in heaths with 'grasstrees', banksias, hakes, rushes, sedges, scrubby thickets, lignum, montane gullies, subalpine grasslands, heathy woodlands; in Tas. button-grass plains, montane moors; in sw. WA dune-vegetation, sand plain-heaths, dry eucalypt, acacia-spinifex. Range: coastal WA from Shark Bay south to SA border; Eyre Pen. (SA) from Adelaide coastal to Vic. border; coastal Vic., NSW to above Brisbane in Q.; all Tas.

NOTE: Up to eleven subspecies have been described with seven being recognised. 

Subspecies westernensis photographed at Cheyenne's Beach, WA, November 2016

Subspecies littleri, photographed on South Coast Track, Tasmania February 2017