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White-browed ScrubwrenSize: 11-13 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
There are twelve races of White-browed Scrubwrens in Australia; for details see a field guide. They populate the coastal fringe and the Great Dividing Range plus southern Alps of the continent. Along the coastline they are found from about Cairns, QLD, then all along the east coast, along the south coast (including Bass Strait and Tasmania) and up the west coast, to about the estuary of the Gascoyne River in WA.
White-browed Scrubwrens are found in dense undergrowth of various types of vegetation, from the underbrush of eucalypt forest inland to heath, dense wet forest and saltmarshes. They can also appear in dense underbrush in urban parks or gardens.
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Sightings |
Race "tweedi"
We have not seen a White-browed Scrubwren "tweedi" at the places where we lived near Narrabri, NSW, either 20 km south of town or 20 km east of town. In December 2008 we spotted them for the first time 30 km east of Narrabri, in Deriah Forest, in the western foothills of the Nandewar Range. There we have seen them regularly since then. White-browed Scrubwrens were also seen by us in the Narrabri township in August 2010.
In January and August of 2006 we spotted White-browed Scrubwrens "tweedi" at Sawn Rocks (Mt. Kaputar National Park), north-east of Narrabri, NSW. In October 2006 also spotted near Barraba, NSW.
They are abundant in the rainforests east of the Great Dividing Range, where we have seen them at Dorrigo National Park, in north-east NSW.
Race "laevigaster"
Spotted for the first time in October 2007 in Washpool National Park, north-east NSW. Also spotted in various locations in southern and central QLD in July 2009; seen as far west as Bunya Mountains NP and Carnarvon NP.
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Photos |
Race "tweedi"
Lateral view of a White-browed Scrubwren tweedi
Here the back of a bird found in dense rain forest
White-browed Scrubwren tweedi seen from above
(Slightly unsharp) frontal view of an immature White-browed Scrubwren
Lateral view of an immature White-browed Scrubwren
Race "laevigaster"
Male White-browed Scrubwren, frontal view
Near-lateral view of a male White-browed Scrubwren "laevigaster"
Lateral view of a female(?) White-browed Scrubwren
laevigaster wagging its rear
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Pair/family clan |
At Dorrigo National Park we observed White-browed Scrubwrens that followed larger birds working through leaf litter (such as Superb Lyrebirds and Australian Brush-Turkeys) and then opportunistically picked their prey out of the dugouts.
Similar to some other bird species, White-browed Scrubwrens can become quite tame. The bird shown below was photographed inside a house.
White-browed Scrubwren inside a house (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
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Food |
Yellow-throated Scrubwrens forage through leaf litter or tree bark for small insects.
Male White-browed Scrubwren tweedi seen from behind after a successful hunt in a creekbed
