The Papuan scrubwren is a species of bird in the family Acanthizidae. It is found in the highlands of New Guinea; its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Region
New Guinea Highlands
Typical Environment
Occurs throughout montane forests of New Guinea’s central cordillera, including both Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua. It occupies moist mossy forest, forest edges, and dense secondary growth, typically staying within the understory and along the forest floor. Birds frequently work through tangles, fallen logs, and epiphyte-laden branches. In some areas it approaches the treeline in shrubby, stunted cloud forest. It is generally absent from lowland rainforest and open habitats.
Altitude Range
1500–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small scrubwren of the family Acanthizidae is confined to the highlands of New Guinea, where it keeps to the dark, mossy understory. It often joins mixed-species flocks and forages quietly near the ground. The species was formerly placed in the genus Sericornis but is now widely treated as Aethomyias based on genetic studies. Its thin, high-pitched calls can be hard to locate in dense foliage.
Temperament
skulking and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups and frequently associates with mixed-species flocks in the understory. Pairs maintain territories and both sexes participate in nesting duties. The nest is a domed structure placed low in dense vegetation or near the ground.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of thin, high-pitched trills and short series of squeaky notes, often delivered from concealed perches. Calls include sharp ticks and soft chips used to maintain contact within pairs and flocks.
Plumage
Plain olive-brown to brown upperparts with a greyer wash on the face and paler, buffy underparts; throat often slightly whitish or greyed. Feathering is soft and lacks bold patterning, aiding camouflage in shadowy understory. Tail is short and often flicked.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small invertebrates such as insects, spiders, and their larvae. It gleans from leaves, twigs, moss, and bark, and probes among epiphytes and leaf-litter. Occasionally takes small berries or other soft plant matter when invertebrates are scarce.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the shaded understory, along fallen logs, and within mossy tangles of montane forest. Often works methodically through low shrubs and dense growth near the ground, sometimes following mixed flocks along forest edges and gaps.
