Western Fieldwren

1. Frequently holds its tail upright while moving through vegetation or on the ground.

2. Prominent white eyebrow and throat stand out against the streaked head and breast.

3. Olive-brown upperparts with dark streaks and yellowish underparts set it apart from other small ground-dwelling birds in the region.

Western Fieldwrens mainly eat insects such as beetles and caterpillars, along with some seeds, foraging on the ground or in low vegetation. They are usually seen alone or in pairs, moving quickly between shrubs with their tail held high. Breeding takes place from July to December, and pairs may raise two broods in good years. The nest is dome-shaped with a side entrance, built on the ground under shrubs or in grass tussocks, using coarse grass and plant material lined with finer materials. Females lay 2–4 eggs. While not currently threatened, their habitat is affected by land clearing, changes in fire patterns, and grazing.

Western Fieldwrens are found throughout southwestern Western Australia, south of a line from Geraldton to Point Culver, but are absent from the wetter forests of the far southwest. They prefer mallee, coastal heathlands, and shrublands with paperbarks, casuarinas, and acacias. Spring mornings are the best time to see or hear males singing from shrubs. At other times, they are more often hidden in dense vegetation or foraging on the ground. Their song, described as “per-chee chip ter chewee,” is often heard before the bird is seen. Early morning and late afternoon are good times to look for them as they move between patches of cover.