Rufous Songlark
A species of Striated Grassbird Scientific name : Cincloramphus mathewsi Genus : Striated Grassbird
Rufous Songlark, A species of Striated Grassbird
Botanical name: Cincloramphus mathewsi
Genus: Striated Grassbird
Content
Description General Info
Description
The rufous songlark is medium brown passerine songbird with a pattern of streaks on its feathers. Encyclopædia Britannica describes this bird as "drab and vaguely larklike". It has a dark line through its eye, a pale eyebrow and pale underparts, and a rufous upper tail and rump. A little larger than a house sparrow, the male grows to about 19 cm in length and is larger than the female who reaches only about 16 cm. This species is similar to the brown songlark but males of that species are much larger than those of the rufous songlark. Brown songlarks females also lack the rufous rump of the rufous songlark female. 
Size
17 - 21 cm
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
The Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi) primarily consumes small invertebrates such as spiders, insects, and their larvae, complementing its diet with small seeds. Rufous Songlark forages alone or in groups, running and walking amidst grass, and captures prey on the ground.
Habitat
The habitat of rufous Songlark typically includes lightly wooded grasslands, savannas, and scrubby farmlands, often featuring a scattering of tall trees. While rufous Songlark avoids barren, treeless terrains and dense forests, they are occasionally found in shrubby depressions within otherwise treeless areas. These environments are generally open, providing the space and resources needed for rufous Songlark's survival.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
The rufous songlark hunts close to the ground for the insects and other small arthropods upon which it feeds. The bird can be found in grasslands, grassy open woodlands, agricultural areas, and mulga that it favors as a habitat. Living in areas populated by humans, it sometimes ends up as road kill. Outside the breeding period these birds form small flocks of up to two dozen individuals. In the breeding season the lively, unmistakable song of the male rufous songlark is heard almost continuously. He chirps and curves his back while going on slow, showy "display flights" between trees. The distinctive "twitchy tweedle" song of the rufous songlark has been included on CDs of "Favourite Australian Birdsong". Without help from the male, the female bird builds a deep nest of grass sheltered amid grass or low vegetation. She also incubates the eggs and raises the fledglings herself.
Distribution Area
The rufous songlark is common all over mainland Australia, but is uncommon in the northern Top End of the Northern Territory (Goodfellow & Stott, 2001; 2005). and rare on the island of Tasmania. The overall range of the songlark is thought to be in the order of between 1,000,000 and 10,000,000 km. C. mathewsi is most often found in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. Each year the rufous songlark spends colder months in the north and migrates south in the summer to breed, and in this way it typically is only seen in the warmer months.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Grassbirds and allies Genus
Striated Grassbird Species
Rufous Songlark 
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