Tawny Grassbird

1. Rufous-brown upperparts with bold black streaks and a plain brown cap

2. Long, drooping tail and pale underparts

3. Most often detected by its loud, varied song and display flight

Tawny Grassbirds are insectivores, feeding mostly on insects and other small invertebrates among grasses and reeds. They are generally shy and secretive, often staying hidden in dense vegetation. During the breeding season (mainly August to January in Australia), males sing from exposed perches or perform fluttering display flights with tails held down. Nests are well-hidden cups of grass, built low in dense cover. The female incubates the eggs and cares for the young. Habitat loss from grazing and introduced grasses can threaten local populations, though the species remains widespread and is not considered globally threatened.

In Australia, Tawny Grassbirds are found from the Kimberley in Western Australia, across the Top End and down the east coast to the Shoalhaven region in New South Wales. They are rare in Victoria, with only a handful of records, but small groups have been documented in suitable grassland habitats. The species prefers rank grasslands, reedbeds, sedges, and rushes around wetlands, lagoons, and watercourses. They are most active and visible at dawn and dusk, especially during the breeding season when males sing and display.