Tawny Grassbird Cincloramphus timoriensis Scientific name definitions

18–21 cm; c. 35–40 g. A medium-sized, rather drab grassbird with long and graduated tail, rectrices narrowing to blunt tip but not becoming unduly frayed. Nominate race has short, indistinct off-whitish super­cilium contrasting little with relatively plain face; forehead, crown and nape rufous (faintly streaked), contrasting with “saddle” of bold black streaking on mantle, back and scapulars; rump and uppertail-coverts rufous-brown, wings also rufous, tertials with wide blackish centres; tail warm brown, shading darker towards feather shafts; lores and ear-coverts plain sandy brown, shading to off-white on throat and breast; flanks and undertail-coverts unstreaked greyish-buff; iris yellowish-brown; bill pinkish-brown, paler on lower mandible, darkest on culmen; legs fleshy-pink to fleshy-brown. Distinguished from C. macrurus by smaller size, relatively shorter tail (tail/wing ratio 1·15–1·38, as opposed to 1·4–1·52 of latter) with slightly blunter and stiffer feather tips (not becoming frayed), also relatively smaller bill; from Poodytes gramineus by larger size, brighter plumage, lack of streaking below, paler legs. Sexes similar, male larger than female; presence of dark crown spotting may a sexual difference, rather than an age-related one. Juvenile is similar to adult in fresh plumage, but iris dark brown (not yellowish-brown). Race <em>alisteri</em> is similar to nominate but less bright rufous on crown and rump, and has fine blackish streaks on uppertail-coverts; amboinensis is similar to previous but smaller (wing 58–61 mm, compared with 62–68 mm), with crown and rump unstreaked but with dark shaft streaks on uppertail-coverts; <em>inquirendus</em> is richly coloured, like nominate, but has well-defined spotting on breast and crown; celebensis is heavily streaked on crown and rump; <em>muscalis</em> has boldly streaked crown but relatively plain rump; <em>tweeddalei</em> is both richly coloured and the largest (wing 76 mm); mindorensis is darker above than previous; alopex is even more richly coloured than tweeddalei, with rather indistinct supercilium; <em>crex</em> darker and somewhat greyer than previous; mindorensis, alopex and crex are all somewhat intermediate in size (wing 70 mm).

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Also Romang I (NE of Timor) and Yamdena I (Tanimbar Is) (2 Coates, B. J. and K. D. Bishop (1997). A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea: Sulawesi, The Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, Australia. Close ), but racial diagnosis disputed.

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis tweeddalei Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N and C Philippines (Luzon, Samar, Negros, Panay and adjacent small islands).

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis mindorensis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

NW Philippines (Mindoro).

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis alopex Scientific name definitions

Distribution

C Philippines (Cebu, Leyte, Bohol).

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis crex Scientific name definitions

Distribution

S Philippines (Mindanao, Basilan).

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis celebensis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Sulawesi.

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis amboinensis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Ambon, in S Moluccas.

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis inquirendus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Sumba, in Lesser Sundas.

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis timoriensis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Timor.

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis muscalis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

S New Guinea (Fly R area).

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SUBSPECIES

Cincloramphus timoriensis alisteri Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N and E Australia, from NE Western Australia (Kimberleys) and N Northern Territory E to N and E Queensland, thence S in E New South Wales to Sydney.

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.

Reedbeds and grasslands, especially rank grassland with scattered shrubs; particularly in riverine floodplains. Inhabits extensive wet sedge plains on Timor. In Australia , also in wet coastal heathland, grassy dunes, and locally even in crops such as maize or sugar cane; sometimes at fringes of large bushy gardens. Chiefly in lowlands, but ascends grassy slopes to 2000 m in Philippines.

Chiefly resident. At least some Australian populations partially migratory or nomadic; precise extent of movement difficult to evaluate with such an elusive species, but sporadic dispersal into areas not normally holding this species suggests nomadic movements leading to temporary colonization. Those in extreme S Australia seem to be true seasonal visitors, whereas clearly resident farther N. A vagrant reported on King I (in Bass Strait) in May 1981 indicates potential strength of some of these movements. Birds from Philippines and Indonesian islands are all considered resident.

Arthropods and other invertebrates; some seeds also eaten. Feeds almost entirely on small insects, chiefly larvae of moths (Lepidoptera) and flies (Diptera); several species of bug (Hemiptera), crickets (Orthoptera), mantids (Mantodea) and small beetles (Coleoptera) also recorded. Nestlings fed particularly on soft-bodied lepidopteran larvae and larval instars of orthopterans. Solitary or in pairs. Forages on or close to ground, nimbly slipping through dense grass and picking insects from both ground and stems; hops and sometimes even runs between grass clumps. Despite shy reputation, can be very inquisitive, climbing taller stems to view intruders, tail-switching, often calling agitatedly from post or wire; if flushed, generally flies low for just a few metres before dropping back into cover.

Song transcriptions vary somewhat over wide range, although significance of this unclear: in Philippines, described as a series of loud rattling and ringing notes, recalling that of M. palustris; in Lesser Sundas, as an attractive rising and falling pattern of somewhat rattling but sweet, reeling warbled notes of 4 seconds’ duration, usually given in flight; in Australia, as a rich, loud and varied reel, “ch-ch-ch-zzzzzt-lik-lik”, some notes with snapping or whipcracking quality, often given in flight. Call a low, dry and sharp, repeated “jik” or “chip”, like sound of two pebbles being struck together.

Season chiefly between Aug and Apr (at onset of local rains) in Australia; breeding reported Feb–Aug in Philippines; single-brooded. Low fluttering song flight, with tail held down, in Australia; aerial song also in Lesser Sundas. Nest a deep cup, partially domed, with narrow entrance at top, constructed of soft grasses, lined with finer grasses and rootlets; situated on or close to ground in grass clump or similar low dense vegetation. Clutch 3 eggs, sometimes 2; no information on incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Locally common; status poorly known in many parts of range. In Philippines, occurs on all major islands and is considered to be locally common. Precise status in New Guinea has been somewhat confused by the recent treatment of C. macrurus as a separate species, leaving only race muscalis of the middle R Fly to represent present species there. In Australia, generally considered uncommon or locally common, and is probably nomadic to a certain extent; pockets of denser populations form in ideal habitats, and can persist for several years, before disappearing as conditions become unsuitable. Many local populations are poorly known, and status uncertain particularly in the Wallacean island groups, where some islands have yielded very few sightings or specimens. In many cases this species is, or was, probably merely overlooked; e.g. on Timor it was until recently known only from a few specimens, but has now been found to be locally common.