Shy heathwren
| Shy heathwren | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Acanthizidae |
| Genus: | Hylacola |
| Species: | H. cauta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hylacola cauta Gould, 1843
| |
| Subspecies[2] | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Calamanthus cautus | |
The shy heathwren (Hylacola cauta) is a species of small bird in the family Acanthizidae, endemic to Australia. They inhabit mostly mallee woodland that has relatively dense shrub and heath understorey.
Taxonomy
[edit]Their taxonomic name was formerly Calamanthus cautus—classing them as fieldwrens—until they were renamed in 2008.[3] The generic name Hylacola derives from the Greek hylē 'woodland' and the Latin -cola 'dweller'.[4] The specific epithet derives from the Latin cautus 'shy, wary'.[4] Common names for the species include shy hylacola[1] and mallee heathwren.[5] Four subspecies have been recognised: the nominate subspecies Hylacola cauta cauta in South Australia and Victoria; H. c. macrorhynchus in New South Wales; H. c. halmaturina on Kangaroo Island; and H. c. whitlocki in Western Australia.[6][7]
Description
[edit]The birds are cock-tailed with a chestnut rump that darkens towards the tip. Their feathers are white with brown streaking underneath and greyish-brown on the back and crown. They have a white eyebrow, tail tip and patch on the flight feathers, and a black bill. Their eyes are brown to yellowish-brown and legs are slate-brown. Females have slightly duller colouring, and immature birds are duller again with some of these being fawn-coloured underneath.[8][9] They have a total length when adults of 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in).[8][6]
Distribution and threats
[edit]They are uncommon residents across a wide part of southern Australia. Ranging from near West Wyalong in New South Wales to the Murchison River in Western Australia.[8] In New South Wales, they are found in two isolated populations: one between Leeton, Willandra National Park, Nymagee and West Wyalong; and the other from Balranald to Trentham Cliffs. Within the state they are seen as a threatened and vulnerable, largely due to human-wrought habitat loss, and predation by foxes and cats.[9]
Behaviour
[edit]Diet
[edit]Shy heathwrens feed mostly on ground-dwelling insects, and rarely on seeds.
Nesting
[edit]Their ground-level nests are dome-shaped and usually concealed within grass tussocks or shrubs.[9] They typically lay 2 or 3 freckled and pinkish eggs.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b BirdLife International. (2024). "Hylacola cauta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024: e.T22704614A253979251. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22704614A253979251.en. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
- ^ Christidis, L; Boles, W.E (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6.
- ^ a b Jobling, James A. "Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names". Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ Pizzey, Graham; Doyle, Roy (1980) A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Collins Publishers, Sydney. ISBN 073222436-5
- ^ a b Morcombe, Michael (2012) Field Guide to Australian Birds. Pascal Press, Glebe, NSW. Revised edition. ISBN 978174021417-9
- ^ Gregory, P. (2020). "Shy Heathwren (Hylacola cauta)". Birds of the World Online. 1.0. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. doi:10.2173/bow.shyhea1.01.
- ^ a b c d Slater, Peter; Slater, Pat; Slater, Raoul (1993). The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds (Revised ed.). Sydney: Landsdowne. p. 258. ISBN 0-947116-99-0.
- ^ a b c "Shy Heathwren – Profile". Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
