Southern Emuwren Stipiturus malachurus Scientific name definitions

15·5–19 cm; 5·5–9 g. Small-bodied malurid with tail twice as long as body , filamentous rectrices loosely webbed. Male nominate race is black-streaked rusty brown above, front of crown more rufous and unstreaked, short eyebrow sky-blue; ear-coverts light brown, sometimes with paler streaks; upperwing grey-brown, edged rufous; throat and upper breast sky-blue , rest of underparts rufous, whiter on belly; iris brown; bill black; legs brown. Female is as male, but upper surface more streaked, no rufous on forecrown, no blue above eye, all reddish-brown below; bill dark brown, with light grey base of lower mandible. Immature is as female, but duller and with more diffuse streaking, bill brown, male (from 5 days of age) has blue-grey throat and breast. Race <em>littleri</em> is smaller and more rufous than nominate; polionotum is paler, back mid-grey with olive tones; intermedius has much darker and more heavily streaked olive-grey back, male forecrown olive-brown with black streaking; halmaturinus is largest, paler, greyer back with fine black streaks, plain dull rufous forecrown; parimeda has blue areas paler, back pale olive-grey with fine black streaks, flanks pallid tawny, belly white; <em>westernensis</em> has olive-grey back, white-streaked ear-coverts, male with rufous forecrown streaked black, long blue eyebrow extending to lores; hartogi is smaller, paler and greyer, streaks on head and back almost absent.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Insectivorous. Forages by hop-search on ground, with tail held erect; probes vegetation and snatches resting insects. Beats moths (Lepidoptera) to remove wings; splits stems of rushes (Juncus) to reach larvae concealed inside. Rarely flies, and keeps in dense cover, especially when windy. In small groups, probably family parties, outside breeding season.