Tasmanian Scrubwren with insect.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Tasmanian Scrubwren.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Distribution map of Sericornis humilis
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Tasmanian Scrubwren
Scientific name: Sericornis humilis
Family: Pardalotidae
Order: Passeriformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Small insect-eating birds
What does it look like?
Description
The Tasmanian Scrubwren is a small bird with a short, slender straight bill, short legs and a short tail. Tasmanian Scrubwrens are mostly dark olive-brown above with russet on the back, rump and upper-tail. They are dull cream below with greyish streaking. The eye is cream and has pale lines above and below it. The area between the lines is grey. The chin and throat are off-white with coarse dark streaking. They have a black shoulder patch with overlying white markings. The area between the bill and the eye is blacker in males and greyer in females. The females also have less contrasting patterns. Tasmanian Scrubwrens are also known as Brown Scrubwrens.
Similar species
The Tasmanian Scrubwren is very similar in size and shape to the White-browed Scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis, but is generally a little darker and has less white on the throat. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of S. frontalis.
Where does it live?
Distribution
The Tasmanian Scrubwren is confined to mainland Tasmania, King Island and other offshore islands in the Tasmanian region.
Habitat
The Tasmanian Scrubwren prefers areas with dense vegetation, such as rainforests and other forest areas with moist gullies. It is usually seen on or close to the ground.
What does it do?
Feeding
Tasmanian Scrubwrens usually eat insects, but occasionally eat seeds. They often forage in pairs.Breeding
The nest of the Tasmanian Scrubwren is located on or close to the ground in thick vegetation. The nest is domed or nearly spherical with a rounded side entrance. It is made of bark, grass and moss and softly lined with feathers or fur. The eggs are pale purple with brown spots at the base.References
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. 1997. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Morcombe, M. 2000. Field guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing.
Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition. Penguin Books, Australia.
Higgins, P.J. and J.M. Peter (eds) 2002. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 6: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.