Dusky Grasswren
A species of Grasswrens Scientific name : Amytornis purnelli Genus : Grasswrens
Dusky Grasswren, A species of Grasswrens
Botanical name: Amytornis purnelli
Genus: Grasswrens
Content
Description General Info
Description
The dusky grasswren is superficially similar in appearance to a number of the other grasswrens in the genus Amytornis, but is the only member of this genus to exclusively inhabit rocky ranges across Central Australia. It has a predominantly brown base colour to its plumage with fine pale streaking over the head breast and mantle. The brown of the plumage is a richer chestnut on the back and pale to almost buff on the belly and vent. The most obvious difference between sexes is the bright rusty-brown spot on the fore-flanks of the adult female and all birds exhibit the characteristic cocked tail posture common to all malurids. 
Size
18 cm
Feeding Habits
Dusky Grasswren consumes a mix of small arthropods, invertebrates, seeds, and desert fruits. Dusky Grasswren's feeding behaviors include foraging and live prey capture, with dietary variety enhanced in captivity by meat mixes, greens, vegetables, and live invertebrates like cockroaches and mealworms.
Habitat
Dusky Grasswren typically inhabit arid interior regions characterized by rocky gorges and isolated ridges with sparse open woodlands. These environments typically feature a thick underlayer of spinifex grasses from the genus Triodia, often found in tumbled talus or scree. The species displays a preference for long-unburnt spinifex and is closely associated with rocky outcrops, shunning the adjacent sandplain habitats—which contributes to their patchy distribution.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
The majority of the range of the dusky grasswren is very remote terrain with little or no regular human visitation. As such, its distribution is very poorly known and although its range covers a large area on the map, it may occupy this region very patchily and be absent from much of it. The northernmost records of the species come from the Ashburton Range near Banka Banka in the Northern Territory; the most southerly are in the Musgrave, Mann and Tomkinson Ranges of South Australia. They have been observed as far west as the Schwern-Mural Crescent near Giles in Western Australia and as far east as the Davenport and Murchison Ranges in the Northern Territory. Within this region there are very large areas of unsuitable habitat separating populations.
Species Status
None of the IUCN criteria for threat classification are triggered by the dusky grasswren, mainly due to its very large range. Although detailed population and distributional data are lacking, it is assumed to have a stable population across a wide distribution and, as such, is not considered vulnerable to becoming an endangered species.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Australasian wrens Genus
Grasswrens Species
Dusky Grasswren 
Download Picture Bird
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
