Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Hylacola cautus
Profile last updated:
01 Dec 2017
Description
The Shy Heathwren (also known as the Shy Hylacola Calamanthus cautus) is a small (11.5 - 14 cm) bird superficially similar in appearance to a fairy-wrens, though larger in size. The plumage is warm brown above, with the head and neck greyer, contrasting with the pale, but heavily streaked, underparts. The flanks and thighs have a light grey-brown wash. The crown is in bold contrast to the clean, white eyebrow. The rump and tail coverts (both above and below) are a striking, fiery rufous-chestnut. The tail, which is held cocked, darkens from chestnut to dark brown, and culminates in a prominent white tip. The flight feathers are white at the base, forming a prominent white wing patch when the wing is folded. The eye is red-brown or yellowish-brown, the legs slate-brown and the bill blackish. The female’s underparts have a cream (rather than white) base colour while juveniles can be distinguished by lack of streaking on the underparts and generally duller plumage overall. It can be distinguished from the related Chestnut-rumped Heathwren by the presence of the white wing spot, a generally brighter overall plumage and by habitat.
Distribution
Occurs across southern Australia extending from the wheatbelt in southern Western Australia east to central NSW, including Kangaroo Island. Two subspecies occur in NSW. The first (macrorhyncha) is confined to central NSW between Griffith, Roto, Nymagee and West Wyalong, with most records within OEH managed reserves (including Yathong, Nombinnie, Round Hill and The Charcoal Tank Nature Reserves and Cocoparra National Park). The nominate subspecies (cautus) occurs in the far south west between Balranald and Trentham Cliffs (including Mallee Cliffs National Park), north into the Scotia Mallee (including Tarawi Nature Reserve and Scotia Sanctuary). This subspecies also occurs in north west Victoria and eastern South Australia (as far west as the Flinders Ranges).
Habitat and ecology
- Inhabits mallee woodlands with a relatively dense understorey of shrubs and heath plants. The central NSW population (for example in Cocoparra NP) also occurs at low densities in rocky hilltop vegetation with a thick shrub layer such as Broombush or Tea-tree.
- Appears to occur in all age classes of vegetation, though believed to prefer either one to five years following fire when the resprouting eucalypts provide dense vegetation cover or in long unburnt (greater than 40 years) areas which have a well developed shrub layer.
- Feeds on the ground, almost entirely on insects (cockroaches, grasshoppers, bugs, lerps, beetles, caterpillars, moths, ants, spiders and insect eggs) and rarely on seeds, including those of saltbush.
- Breeds late winter to early summer and builds a dome-shaped nest in a concealed location on the ground, using a variety of plant materials.
- Generally occurs singly or in pairs, where it can be secretive, keeping within dense vegetation. In spring, males may sing from the top of low shrubs.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Loss of habitat due to clearing has led to a decline in distribution and abundance.
- Fragmentation, resulting from clearing or degradation of habitat, may reduce the size of populations and increase the extent to which they are isolated; small, isolated populations have a greater risk of extinction due to genetic effects and chance events (e.g. drought and fire).
- Degradation of the habitat, a result of inappropriate grazing or fire regimes, has resulted in changes to the physical and biological nature of the habitat (e.g. changes in the structure and floral composition of the vegetation, and diversity and abundance of invertebrates); these changes may render habitat unsuitable or increase the risk posed by other threatening processes (e.g. predation).
- Fire may cause the direct loss of individuals.
- Predation by foxes or cats, particularly where populations have already declined.
- Human-induced climate change is a long-term threat as it may alter habitat characteristics (e.g. changes in physical structure or productivity) such that its capacity to support viable populations is reduced.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Control vertebrate pest populations (e.g. foxes, cats and rabbits), which either prey on the species or compete for resources.
- Maintain mosaic of different fire ages, including large areas of long unburnt. The aim is to maintain a layer of dense vegetation at ground level (either as an old growth shrub layer or dense resprouting of mallee following fire). No more than 5% of the area should be burnt in a single year, and no more than 15% in five years. Following occurrence of wildfire, monitoring required prior to additional ecological burns.
- Reduce stocking intensity or exclude grazing in some areas to allow regeneration of vegetation and improve habitat quality (e.g. shelter, food and nest resources).
- Retain stick and leaf litter.
- Retain understorey shrubs and allow them to complete their life cycle (i.e. seed set, germination, establishment, growth to maturity).
- Retain fallen logs and ground debris.
Information sources
- Higgins, P.J. and Peter, J.M. (eds.) (2002) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 6: Pardalotes to shrike-thrushes. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|