Western grasswren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western grasswren |
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Amytornis
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textilis
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The western grasswren (Amytornis textilis) is a small bird found only in Australia. It's also known as the thick-billed grasswren. This bird belongs to a family called Maluridae.
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Discovering the Western Grasswren
This special bird was first found in 1818. It was collected on the Peron Peninsula in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Two naturalists, Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard, found it. They were part of a French expedition exploring the world.
Even though the first bird specimen was lost, an artist named Jacques Arago had drawn it. Based on this drawing, the bird was officially described in 1824 by Dumont.
What Does the Western Grasswren Look Like?
The western grasswren is a small, shy bird. It mostly stays on the ground. Its feathers are brown with fine black and white stripes. It also has a long, thin tail.
Male grasswrens are a bit bigger than females. Males usually weigh between 22 and 27 grams. Females are a bit lighter, weighing 20 to 25 grams. Female birds develop special chestnut-colored patches under their wings when they are 1 to 2 months old. These birds are often seen in small groups of two or three.
Types of Western Grasswrens
Scientists have identified different types, or subspecies, of the western grasswren. Here are the main ones:
- A. t. textilis (Dumont, 1824) – This type lives in the Shark Bay area of Western Australia.
- †A. t. macrourus (Gould, 1847) – This type used to live in Southwest Australia but is now extinct.
- A. t. myall (Mathews, 1916) – This type lives in the Gawler Ranges of South Australia.
Some other types have been described, but scientists are not sure if they are truly separate subspecies. Sadly, these are also extinct:
- †A. t. carteri (Mathews, 1917) – This type was found on Dirk Hartog Island.
- †A. t. giganturus (Milligan, 1901) – This type lived in the dry inland areas.
Where Western Grasswrens Live
The western grasswren used to live across much of southwestern Australia. There was also a separate group in the Gawler Ranges in South Australia. The main group's home area has shrunk towards the Shark Bay region since 1910.
This is likely because their habitat has been damaged. Too much grazing by animals has reduced the plants they need for cover and nesting. They prefer to live in low, dense shrublands, usually less than a meter tall. These shrubs often include Acacia plants and form thick clumps.
The subspecies that lived in Southwest Australia (A. t. macrourus) is now extinct. It preferred dense thickets within different Eucalyptus plant areas.
Protecting the Western Grasswren
Scientists estimate there are about 21,500 western grasswrens of the main subspecies (A. t. textilis). They live over an area of 20,000 square kilometers. A large group lives in Francois Peron National Park. Other smaller groups live on nearby farming lands. Even though their home area has shrunk in the past, this group is now healthy and stable.
The Gawler Ranges subspecies (A. t. myall) has about 8,400 adult birds. They live over an area of 12,000 square kilometers. Sadly, the number of these birds is decreasing.
See also
In Spanish: Maluro occidental para niños
