Atherton Scrubwren

1. Long, pointed dark bill that seems large compared to its body size.

2. Dark olive-brown upperparts with creamy-buff underparts, often with a soft yellowish wash.

3. Habit of foraging on the ground among leaf litter and fallen logs.

Atherton Scrubwrens mainly eat insects such as beetles, ants, flies, and grasshoppers. They spend most of their time on the forest floor, flipping over leaves and exploring around tree bases and fallen wood. They are usually seen alone, in pairs, or in small family groups of up to four birds. Their breeding season runs from August to December. Nests are built low to the ground and are dome-shaped with side entrances, lined with soft plant fibers and sometimes feathers. Females lay 2 eggs.

This species lives only in the rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands, typically between 6 and 16 meters above sea level. It prefers dense rainforest and forest edges where it searches for insects on the ground. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to spot them, especially near tree roots, fallen branches, and thick leaf litter. Because they move quickly and quietly, observing them requires patience and a careful, quiet approach.