Old World Warblers (Sylviidae)
Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis) - HBW 11, p. 577
French: Mégalure fauve
German: Rostkopf-Schilfsteiger
Spanish: Yerbera Leonada
Other common names: Tawny Grass-warbler/Marshbird, Rufous-capped Grassbird/Grass-warbler
Taxonomy: Megalurus timoriensis Wallace, 1864, Timor, Lesser Sundas.
Forms a superspecies with M. macrurus; traditionally treated as conspecific, but no apparent mixed pairings where the two meet in SC New Guinea. Philippine races relatively larger in size and with longer tail, possibly form a third species, arguably with closer affinity to M. macrurus than to present species. Taxonomic status of a number of island taxa, however, is poorly known, as several of them described from few or poor specimens, and situation further complicated by existence of two rather different-looking specimens from Timor; present arrangement therefore tentative, and .. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Megalurus timoriensis Wallace, 1864, Timor, Lesser Sundas.
Forms a superspecies with M. macrurus; traditionally treated as conspecific, but no apparent mixed pairings where the two meet in SC New Guinea. Philippine races relatively larger in size and with longer tail, possibly form a third species, arguably with closer affinity to M. macrurus than to present species. Taxonomic status of a number of island taxa, however, is poorly known, as several of them described from few or poor specimens, and situation further complicated by existence of two rather different-looking specimens from Timor; present arrangement therefore tentative, and additional research required. Birds from E Australia (SE Queensland, E New South Wales) described as race oweni, but considered synonymous with alisteri. Ten subspecies currently recognized.
Forms a superspecies with M. macrurus; traditionally treated as conspecific, but no apparent mixed pairings where the two meet in SC New Guinea. Philippine races relatively larger in size and with longer tail, possibly form a third species, arguably with closer affinity to M. macrurus than to present species. Taxonomic status of a number of island taxa, however, is poorly known, as several of them described from few or poor specimens, and situation further complicated by existence of two rather different-looking specimens from Timor; present arrangement therefore tentative, and additional research required. Birds from E Australia (SE Queensland, E New South Wales) described as race oweni, but considered synonymous with alisteri. Ten subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- tweeddalei McGregor, 1908 - N & C Philippines (Luzon, Samar, Negros, Panay and adjacent small islands).
- mindorensis Salomonsen, 1953 - NW Philippines (Mindoro).
- alopex Parkes, 1970 - C Philippines (Cebu, Leyte, Bohol).
- tweeddalei McGregor, 1908 - N & C Philippines (Luzon, Samar, Negros, Panay and adjacent small islands).
- mindorensis Salomonsen, 1953 - NW Philippines (Mindoro).
- alopex Parkes, 1970 - C Philippines (Cebu, Leyte, Bohol).
- crex Salomonsen, 1953 - S Philippines (Mindanao, Basilan).
- celebensis Riley, 1919 - Sulawesi.
- amboinensis (Salvadori, 1876) - Ambon, in S Moluccas.
- inquirendus Siebers, 1928 - Sumba, in Lesser Sundas.
- timoriensis Wallace, 1864 - Timor.
- muscalis Rand, 1938 - S New Guinea (R Fly area).
- alisteri Mathews, 1912 - N & E Australia, from NE Western Australia (Kimberleys) and N Northern Territory E to N & E Queensland, thence S in E New South Wales to Sydney.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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An individual moving in vegetation, while calling. Locality Yamdena, Tanimbar Islands, Lesser Sundas (ssp inquirendus)
Josep del Hoyo 3 November 2011 1 year ago 30 sec 4.5 -
An adult bird walking over the vegetation Locality Mount Polis, Mountain Province, Luzon, Philippines (ssp tweeddalie)
Martin Kennewell 20 February 2004 4 years ago 22 sec 4.2 -
Single calling bird by roadside Locality Lee's Crossing, Queensland, Australia
Tom Tarrant 27 March 2011 2 years ago 29 sec 4 -
Bird moving through small tree and calling Locality Westgrove Heights, Silang, Cavite Province, Luzon, Philippines (ssp tweeddalei)
Desmond Allen 7 December 2009 21 weeks ago 19 sec 3.8 -
A bird cleaning his feathers. Locality Mount Kitanglad, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines (ssp crex)
Daniêl Jimenez 20 May 2009 3 years ago 43 sec 3.7 -
A bird in a bush and flying away. Locality Rush Creek, Queensland, Australia (ssp alisteri)
Tom Tarrant 31 March 1998 8 years ago 38 sec 3.4
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A bird on a thin perch.
Locality Yamdena, Tanimbar Islands, Lesser Sundas (ssp unnamed)
James Eaton 3 November 2011 1 year ago 4.3 -
Tawny Grassbird on barbed wire fence
Locality Eagleby Wetlands Reserve, Queensland, Australia (ssp alisteri)
David Taylor 1 January 2009 2 years ago 4.1 -
bird on branch
Locality Wynnum, Queensland, Australia (ssp alisteri)
David Taylor 1 March 2012 1 year ago 4.1 -
Tawny Grassbird on fence
Locality Eagleby Wetlands Reserve, Queensland, Australia
David Taylor 1 January 2009 2 years ago 3.8 -
bird on branch
Locality Port of Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David Taylor 1 March 2012 1 year ago 3.8 -
Adult in riverside long grass.
Locality Wando, Western Province, Papua New Guinea (mainland), New Guinea (ssp muscalis)
Chris Healey 31 August 2012 37 weeks ago 3.6
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Calls by one bird. Locality Yamdena, Tanimbar Islands, Lesser Sundas
(ssp inquirendus)
Josep del Hoyo 3 November 2011 1 year ago 4 -
Typical call Locality Nug-as, Alcoy, Cebu, Philippines
Desmond Allen 1 February 1999 3 years ago 3 -
Bird calling from cleared area Locality Mount Kitanglad, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines
Desmond Allen 5 August 1997 3 years ago 3
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