Tag Archives: Maluridae

Amytornis modestus ssp. inexpectatus (Mathews)

Eastern Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus ssp. inexpectatus)  

The Eastern Thick-billed Grasswren was described in 1912, it inhabited dense vegetation in the Murray-Darling basin in the northwestern part of New South Wales.  

The bird reached a length of about 16 cm.  

The Eastern Thick-billed Grasswren was never found again since its description and is considered extinct.  

*********************

birds on top, left and right; together with Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi Mellor) (bottom left)  

Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. London: Witherby & Co. 1910-1927’  

(public domain) 

*********************

edited: 22.03.2018

Amytornis textilis ssp. carteri (Mathews)

Dirk Hartog Island Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis textilis ssp. carteri)  

The Dirk Hartog Island Thick-billed Grasswren was endemic to Dirk Hartog island off Western Australia, where it inhabited dense Acacia bushland.  

The birds disappeared due to predation by feral cats and were last recorded in 1916 [or 1918 according to which source].  

*********************

birds on bottom and top; together with Southwestern Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis textilis ssp. macrourus (Gould))

Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. London: Witherby & Co. 1910-1927’

(public domain)

*********************  

edited: 22.03.2018

Amytornis textilis ssp. giganturus (Milligan)

Northern Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis textilis ssp. giganturus)  

The Northern Thick-billed Grasswren was endemic to Western Australia, it was originally discovered near the town of Mount Magnet, it was also found near the town of Wiluna and around Lake Carnegie, where it inhabited the salt-tolerant vegetation.  

The Northern Thick-billed Grasswren was not found since 1908 [or 1909 according to which source] and is now extinct.  

*********************

birds on bottom, left and right; together with Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus ssp. modestus (North))

Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Australia. London: Witherby & Co. 1910-1927’

(public domain) 

*********************  

edited: 22.03.2018