Kalkadoon Grasswren

1. Brighter, more defined streaking and greyish wings with a rufous patch (unlike the Dusky Grasswren).

2. Males have grey-washed bellies and flanks; females have more reddish-brown flanks.

3. Frequently seen with its tail cocked upright, moving quickly among rocks and spinifex.

This grasswren is a ground-dwelling, non-migratory bird that spends most of its time foraging for insects and seeds in and around spinifex clumps and rock crevices. It is believed to nest within spinifex hummocks, similar to related species. Breeding takes place between July-October. The Kalkadoon Grasswren is highly specialized to its rocky habitat and is vulnerable to habitat changes. Nestlings are fed by both parents.

The Kalkadoon Grasswren inhabits the spinifex-covered hills, rocky gorges, and ridge lines of the Selwyn Range, southeast of Mount Isa and south to Dajarra. It is often found in areas with dense Triodia (spinifex) clumps, especially around rocky outcrops and cliff tops. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to spot these birds, as they forage in pairs or small groups, moving quickly between boulders and along rocky ledges.

The Kalkadoon Grasswren is named after the Kalkadoon Aboriginal people, the Traditional Owners of the region where the bird is found. The species' scientific name, *ballarae*, references the abandoned mining town of Ballara, near Mount Isa, where the bird was first described. Formerly considered a subspecies of the Dusky Grasswren, it is now recognised as a distinct species based on differences in plumage and distribution.