The mallee emu-wren is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia.
Region
Murray–Mallee of southern Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs in semi-arid mallee eucalypt woodlands with a dense understory of spinifex (Triodia scariosa and related species) on sandy soils. It favors long-unburnt, mature spinifex with contiguous cover, often near mallee-heath mosaics and dune fields. Habitat is naturally patchy and becomes highly fragmented after fire, which the species is slow to recolonize. It keeps close to the ground within hummocks and adjacent low shrubs, avoiding open areas.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The mallee emu-wren is a tiny, shy wren with an exceptionally long, filamentous tail that resembles an emu’s feathers, giving the group its name. It lives almost exclusively within dense spinifex (Triodia) hummocks in mallee eucalypt country and is highly sensitive to intense wildfire. Males show a wash of sky-blue on the throat and chest, while females are duller and lack the blue. Its weak flight and strong preference for dense cover mean it rarely moves far from suitable patches of long-unburnt spinifex.
Temperament
skulking and shy
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, weak low flights between cover
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs or small family groups within a territory centered on dense spinifex. Nests are domed and placed low within hummocks, offering concealment from predators and harsh conditions. Breeding occurs in the cooler months following rainfall, with both adults attentive to nest concealment and care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A thin, high-pitched series of tsee and tzip notes, often delivered from within cover. Males add soft, tinkling trills during breeding displays; calls can be hard to locate due to their ventriloquial quality.
Plumage
Fine, hair-like tail feathers; warm sandy-brown upperparts with darker streaking; paler buff underparts. Males show a pale sky-blue throat and upper chest with a rufous crown; females are browner and lack blue.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small arthropods such as ants, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders gleaned from spinifex and low shrubs. It probes among the bases of hummocks and litter, occasionally sallying short distances to pick prey. Seeds and small plant matter may be taken opportunistically but form a minor part of the diet.
Preferred Environment
Forages almost entirely within or at the edges of dense spinifex hummocks and adjacent low shrublands. Avoids open ground, moving rapidly and quietly through cover.
