Megalurus
Encyclopedia
Megalurus is a genus of passerine
bird
in the family Locustellidae. The genus was once placed in the Old World warbler
"wastebin
" family
Sylviidae. The genus contains six species also known as the typical grassbirds. The genus is distributed from northern China
and Japan
, to India
in the west, and Australia
in the south, with most species being located wholly or partly in the tropics. The genus is also sometimes considered to include the genus Bowdleria, which holds the fernbird
s of New Zealand
. The most widespread species, the Tawny Grassbird
, ranges from the Philippines
to southern New South Wales
, whereas the Fly River Grassbird
is restricted to swampland in the southern part of New Guinea
. One species, the Marsh Grassbird
, is partially migratory
, moving from northern China and Japan (and southern Siberia
) to southern Japan and central China; the other species are sedentary. The natural habitat of the typical grassbirds is, as the name suggests, wet grasslands, swamps and other marshlands. Some species exist away from water in tall grasslands, heathlands, and forest clearings. Some species have adapted to the margins of rice fields and gardens.
The typical grassbirds are medium sized warblers with short rounded wings and long graduated tails, which are often worn. The plumage
is brown overall, lighter on the belly and throat, with black streaks on the back. All species have a whitish line above the eye, and some have light streaking on the chest. They range in size from 13 to 28 cm in length and 14-56 g in weight. The genus is unique amongst the family and indeed the Old World warblers in possessing a vestigial wing claw.
Pairs or individual birds forage in dense vegetation. They are generally shy and seldom fly
, instead foarge mostly by clambering up reeds and grasses, often quite agilely. When they do fly it is generally low to the ground and only for a few metres (although the Papuan Grassbird
will fly some distance when flushed). Insects form the major part of the diet, with insect larvae forming a large part of the diet of the Tawny and Marsh Grassbirds. For the Papuan Grassbird the seeds of grasses and sedges are important, and other foods taken by the genus include spiders and pine needles.
There is little information on the breeding of the Megalurus warblers. Some studies have suggested polygamy, while others have suggested monogamy
is the most important breeding system. The nest
is an open or partially open cup suspended in reeds. The clutch size is two to six eggs.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the family Locustellidae. The genus was once placed in the Old World warbler
Old World warbler
The "Old World Warblers" is the name used to describe a large group of birds formerly grouped together in the bird family Sylviidae. The family held over 400 species in over 70 genera, and were the source of much taxonomic confusion. Two families were split out initially, the cisticolas into...
"wastebin
Wastebin taxon
Wastebasket taxon is a term used in some taxonomic circles to refer to a taxon that has the sole purpose of classifying organisms that do not fit anywhere else. They are typically defined by their lack of one or more distinct character states or by their not belonging to one or more other taxa...
" family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Sylviidae. The genus contains six species also known as the typical grassbirds. The genus is distributed from northern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the west, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the south, with most species being located wholly or partly in the tropics. The genus is also sometimes considered to include the genus Bowdleria, which holds the fernbird
Fernbird
The Fernbird is an insectivorous bird endemic to New Zealand. The Māori names are Kōtātā or Mātātā. It is a rich brown above and white below, with brown spots on both the throat and breast. Early settlers called it the "Swamp Sparrow" no doubt because of its colouration. The tail feathers are...
s of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The most widespread species, the Tawny Grassbird
Tawny Grassbird
The Tawny Grassbird is a songbird species of the grass- and bush-warbler family . It was formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
, ranges from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to southern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, whereas the Fly River Grassbird
Fly River Grassbird
The Fly River Grassbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes and freshwater marshes....
is restricted to swampland in the southern part of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. One species, the Marsh Grassbird
Marsh Grassbird
The Marsh Grassbird , also known as the Japanese Swamp Warbler, is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family. It is found in China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia....
, is partially migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, moving from northern China and Japan (and southern Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
) to southern Japan and central China; the other species are sedentary. The natural habitat of the typical grassbirds is, as the name suggests, wet grasslands, swamps and other marshlands. Some species exist away from water in tall grasslands, heathlands, and forest clearings. Some species have adapted to the margins of rice fields and gardens.
The typical grassbirds are medium sized warblers with short rounded wings and long graduated tails, which are often worn. The plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
is brown overall, lighter on the belly and throat, with black streaks on the back. All species have a whitish line above the eye, and some have light streaking on the chest. They range in size from 13 to 28 cm in length and 14-56 g in weight. The genus is unique amongst the family and indeed the Old World warblers in possessing a vestigial wing claw.
Pairs or individual birds forage in dense vegetation. They are generally shy and seldom fly
Bird flight
Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the world's bird species. Flight assists birds while feeding, breeding and avoiding predators....
, instead foarge mostly by clambering up reeds and grasses, often quite agilely. When they do fly it is generally low to the ground and only for a few metres (although the Papuan Grassbird
Papuan Grassbird
The Papuan Grassbird is a species of typical grassbird in the family Locustellidae. The species was once treated as a several subspecies of the Tawny Grassbird, but the two do not interbreed where their ranges are sympatric. The species is endemic to New Guinea and its satellite islands...
will fly some distance when flushed). Insects form the major part of the diet, with insect larvae forming a large part of the diet of the Tawny and Marsh Grassbirds. For the Papuan Grassbird the seeds of grasses and sedges are important, and other foods taken by the genus include spiders and pine needles.
There is little information on the breeding of the Megalurus warblers. Some studies have suggested polygamy, while others have suggested monogamy
Monogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
is the most important breeding system. The nest
Bird nest
A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the...
is an open or partially open cup suspended in reeds. The clutch size is two to six eggs.
Species
- Marsh GrassbirdMarsh GrassbirdThe Marsh Grassbird , also known as the Japanese Swamp Warbler, is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family. It is found in China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia....
Megalurus pryeri - Tawny GrassbirdTawny GrassbirdThe Tawny Grassbird is a songbird species of the grass- and bush-warbler family . It was formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
Megalurus timoriensis - Papuan GrassbirdPapuan GrassbirdThe Papuan Grassbird is a species of typical grassbird in the family Locustellidae. The species was once treated as a several subspecies of the Tawny Grassbird, but the two do not interbreed where their ranges are sympatric. The species is endemic to New Guinea and its satellite islands...
Megalurus macrurus - Striated GrassbirdStriated GrassbirdThe Striated Grassbird is an "Old World warbler" species in the family Locustellidae. It was formerly placed in the Sylviidae....
Megalurus palustris - Fly River GrassbirdFly River GrassbirdThe Fly River Grassbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes and freshwater marshes....
Megalurus albolimbatus - Little GrassbirdLittle GrassbirdThe Little Grassbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family. It is found in Australia and in West Papua, Indonesia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
Megalurus gramineus