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Gray Emutail Bradypterus seebohmi Scientific name definitions

Steve Madge
Version: 1.1 — Published August 18, 2021

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Field Identification

17 cm; c. 20 g. Very long, graduated tail remarkable for its fragile, disintegrating appearance, enhanced by prominent rachis and spaced barbs; distinctly short uppertail-coverts. Head and upperparts are grey-brown, washed warmer brown on uppertail-coverts, the crown, nape and upperparts quite boldly streaked with black feather centres; tail brownish; streaking on throat and breast browner than that above, and less conspicuous on ashy-white background, becoming olive-brown on flanks and ventral area; iris brown; upper mandible blackish, lower mandible greyish-horn; legs flesh-pink. Differs from Bradypterus brunneus and Nesillas typica mainly in combination of long, rather scruffy tail and streaked appearance. Sexes alike. Juvenile is similar to adult, but has yellowish wash on underparts.

Systematics History

Formerly included in Dromaeocercus, together with Bradypterus brunneus, on account of similarity in their tail structure; however, other morphological features suggest relationship with several grassbirds of presently unresolved affinities. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Mountains of E Madagascar.

Habitat

Montane plateau grasslands and heathland, with marshy vegetation, particularly bordering broadleaf forest; also swampy hollows in rainforest clearings, and sometimes even in rice fields. Chiefly between 1800 m and 2600 m, but recorded as low as 900 m (where one of the few known nests discovered).

Movement

Resident, but some probably disperse to lower elevations outside breeding season.

Diet and Foraging

Food almost entirely tiny insects. Extremely skulking; keeps well hidden, low down in vegetation, clambering nimbly among grass stalks, presence generally revealed only by bursts of song; when flushed, flies low, appearing distinctly heavy and laboured, with long drooping tail, skimming tops of vegetation and dropping in again after only few metres. Upon alighting, moves surprisingly quickly through tangled vegetation. Apart from family groups, typically solitary.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song, from within cover, a series of clear melodic whistles, “teeo-teeo-teeo” repeated up to c. 12 times, generally followed by harsh chatter or rattle, or by both. Calls include sharp “chit” and low churrings when humans near nest.

Breeding

Poorly documented. Breeds Nov. Only two nests described, a deep bowl of entwined grasses, lined with softer grasses, built in grass tuft, one had “escape tunnel” 3·6 m long leading from nest through grass tussocks. Both nests contained two nestlings. No other information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in East Malagasy Wetlands EBA. Uncommon; is, however, very easily overlooked owing to its shy and skulking behaviour, and is almost certainly much more numerous than it appears to be. Apparently widespread down humid C massif and Tsaratanana of E Madagascar: known localities are Andringitra, the vicinity of Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana, Sahavandronina, Ankaratra, Manjakatompo, Antananarivo, Perinet, Andapa and Tsaratanana. On summit of Ankaratra, estimated density of 1 pair/200 m of riverbank.
Distribution of the Gray Emutail - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Gray Emutail

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Madge, S. (2021). Gray Emutail (Bradypterus seebohmi), version 1.1. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.gryemt1.01.1
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