Photo: Tim from Ithaca / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Fernwren
Oreoscopus gutturalis
Fernwren (Oreoscopus gutturalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Fernwren (Oreoscopus gutturalis) is a member of the Acanthizidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 20 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Acanthizidae Australasian Warblers
- Genus Oreoscopus
- Species gutturalis
Where it lives
Montane southeastern Cape York Pen., northeastern QLD (northeastern Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fernwren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Fernwren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Fernwren (Oreoscopus gutturalis) is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane se Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 102,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fernwren?
The Fernwren is a small bird that weighs around 20 g.
Where does the Fernwren live?
The Fernwren is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane se Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Fernwren belong to?
The Fernwren (Oreoscopus gutturalis) belongs to the Acanthizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Fernwren eat?
The Fernwren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Fernwren migrate?
The Fernwren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Fernwren endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Fernwren make?
1 real field recording of the Fernwren — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Fernwren's range?
The Fernwren has a mapped global range of about 102,000 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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Guides for this bird
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