Photo: J G Keulemans (1842-1912) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
Stipiturus ruficeps
Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (Stipiturus ruficeps) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (Stipiturus ruficeps) is a member of the Maluridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Maluridae Australasian Wrens
- Genus Stipiturus
- Species ruficeps
Where it lives
West-central WA to southwestern QLD and north-central SA (western, central Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Maluridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (Stipiturus ruficeps) is a species of bird in the Maluridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU wc WA to sw QLD and nc SA (w, c Australia).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5 g, with a wing length of about 3.8 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 568,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren?
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren is a very small bird that weighs around 5 g.
Where does the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren live?
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU wc WA to sw QLD and nc SA (w, c Australia), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren belong to?
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (Stipiturus ruficeps) belongs to the Maluridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren eat?
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren migrate?
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren's range?
The Rufous-crowned Emu-wren has a mapped global range of about 568,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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