Rufous fieldwren

The rufous fieldwren is a small terrestrial bird, measuring 11.5–13.5 cm (4.5–5.3 in) long, 15.5–19.5 cm (6.1–7.6 in) wingspan, 11–16 g (0.38–0.56 oz) weight.

The eight subspecies are divisible into five groups by their physical traits, characterised by the prominent colour of their mantle, back, scapulars, underbody and degree of striation throughout their plumage.

Subspecies C.c. campestris and C.c. rubiginosus is predominantly grey backed with a slight rufous wash, a cream toned underbody with dark striations.

Subspecies C.c. winiam features a grey back, thick streaking on the underside.

Subspecies C.c. Isabellinus and C.c. wayenis rich rufous-brown upper parts, wish washed cinnamon underparts, has very fine, if not obsolete streaking.

Island Subspecies C.c. Dorrie and C.c. Hartogi have pale-grey upper parts, white underneath with moderate striations.

C.c montanellus is the darkest form, resembling closely to the striated fieldwren Olive grey above with a pale yellow underside.

Females of all subspecies are descriptively similar, only differing through a slightly duller supercilium. Sexual dimorphism is most prominent in subspecies C. montanellus with the chin, throat and supercilium being white in males and yellowish-white and duller in females.

Both sexes are known to sing, which is a cheerful, melodious and clear whirr-whirr-chick-chick-whirr-ree-ree whistled from atop low-lying shrubs. Singing only occurs during their breeding season, which in some sub-populations can occur year-round. Their song can typically be heard at daybreak and for about 30 minutes after the sun has set. Alarm calls consist of sharp chrr-r-r and han-han-han.

Rufous fieldwrens are usually observed singly or in pairs, but can be seen in small family groups of up to five and are often mingled in interspecies flocks with similarly sized inland thornbills, shy heathwrens and slender-billed thornbills. Their tail is always strongly cocked including when hopping along the ground, though sometimes when running they will flatten their tail out horizontally.

Unlikely to be confused with similar species if clearly spotted, though the rufous fieldwren does share similar traits to the striated fieldwren. Best distinguishing features are differences in habitat, with the rufous fieldwren preferring low shrub or heathland, whereas the striated fieldwren occupies rank herbage or cutting-grass swamps, although they can overlap through coastal melaleuca heathland.

The rufous fieldwren has noticeably greyer upperparts with whiter underparts and has a distinctive longer and finer decurved bill than its striated counterpart whose bill is straighter and diagnostically wedge-shaped in profile, with much heavier streaking its through plumage than rufous fieldwrens.