Fernwren Fernwren

1. White throat and black upper chest patch (bib) in adults.

2. Long, straight bill suited for probing leaf litter.

3. Ground-dwelling behaviour with a habit of scratching and flicking leaves while foraging.

Fernwrens feed mainly on small arthropods and occasionally small skinks, which they find by searching through leaf litter. They are usually seen alone, in pairs, or in small family groups, and sometimes follow larger ground birds like Chowchillas to take advantage of disturbed insects. The breeding season runs from July to January, peaking in October and November. Both adults build a dome-shaped nest, usually hidden under overhanging banks, logs, or among ferns, using materials like moss, rootlets, and twigs. The female lays two eggs, and both parents care for the young

Fernwrens are restricted to the Wet Tropics of far north Queensland, from the Paluma Range near Townsville north to Cape Tribulation. They are most often found in high-altitude rainforests, especially above 65 meters, in damp, shaded gullies with dense undergrowth and thick leaf litter. Early morning is the best time to observe them as they forage on the forest floor. Their clear, high-pitched calls can be heard echoing through the rainforest