SPECIES: Amytornis striatus striatus — Mukarrthippi Grasswren
CLASSIFICATION: Critically endangered
Tucked away in the rocky outcrops and spinifex-covered ridges of the western slopes of New South Wales lives one of Australia’s most elusive and little-known birds, the Mukarrthippi Grasswren. Its name comes from the local Wiradjuri language and refers to "dry scrub," a perfect reflection of the arid shrublands this bird calls home. Small, fast, and secretive, the Mukarrthippi Grasswren is rarely seen. It spends most of its life on the ground, darting between rocky crevices and dense clumps of spinifex and shrubland. Like its relatives, it’s more likely to be heard than spotted, producing a series of soft, high-pitched calls and churrs that echo through the dry landscape.
The Mukarrthippi Grasswren is vulnerable to predation by feral cats and foxes, which are particularly devastating for ground-dwelling birds. And as with many inland species, climate change adds another layer of uncertainty, altering vegetation, fire frequency, and water availability. Habitat loss and degradation are also primary threats. Overgrazing by feral goats and rabbits, invasive weeds changing the structure of the vegetation, and inappropriate fire regimes have all had devastating effects on the fragile ecosystem it depends on.
Photo: Michael Todd/NSW Office of Environment and Heritage