Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (Hylacola pyrrhopygia)
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren

Chestnut-rumped Heathwren

Hylacola pyrrhopygia

The Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, a small and elusive bird, graces the Australian bushland with its presence. Its back is adorned with olive-brown plumage, while its namesake chestnut rump and tail coverts provide a striking contrast. The bird's underparts are a blend of streaked brown and white on the chest, transitioning to grey-buff on the belly and rear flanks. A distinctive dark band and white tip mark the usually erect tail. Both sexes boast a subtle white eyebrow above their yellow eyes, and their bills, legs, and feet are a muted grey. This avian jewel measures a modest 14 cm in length.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, look for the reddish-brown rump and tail coverts, the streaked chest, and the dark subterminal band on the tail. The bird's white eyebrow and yellow eyes are also key features. While there are subtle differences between subspecies, these are not readily distinguishable in the field.

Habitat

The Chestnut-rumped Heathwren favors the heaths of coastal, mountain, and hinterland areas, as well as the dense undergrowth of forests and woodlands. It thrives in temperate and subtropical environments.

Distribution

This species is endemic to southeastern Australia, with its range extending from the Granite Belt of southeast Queensland through eastern New South Wales, Victoria, and southeast South Australia. It is found inland to the Grampians and Bendigo region in Victoria, and as far as the Warrumbungles and Temora in New South Wales. Populations are also scattered across the Flinders and Mt Lofty Ranges, and the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia.

Behaviour

The Chestnut-rumped Heathwren is typically shy and reclusive, except during the breeding season from July to November. During this time, both sexes may sing from a bush perch, though they remain partially hidden. They are sedentary and considered uncommon within their range.

Song & calls

The bird's song is a melodious and varied warbling, incorporating chi-chi-tu-weet and kwe-reep among other notes, often mimicking the calls of other birds. A harsh or scolding zeet may be uttered when alarmed or to maintain contact.

Breeding

Nests are domed or globular structures built on or near the ground in tussocks or dense shrubs, appearing somewhat untidy. They are crafted from dry grass stems, bark fiber, and rootlets. The female typically incubates a clutch of three to four salmon-pink, lightly chocolate-brown freckled eggs for 14-16 days.

Diet and Feeding

The Chestnut-rumped Heathwren forages alone, in pairs, or in small groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. Its diet is composed of arthropods such as flies, spiders, moths, larvae, ants, cicadas, and cockroach egg-sacs, as well as seeds from various grasses.

Conservation status

Despite a declining population, the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, it is listed as Endangered in South Australia and Vulnerable in Victoria, with habitat fragmentation, loss, and predation by introduced species posing significant threats.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Kevin Huang
Kevin Huang
09 Jun 2024 - 11:46pm
Australia

More Australasian Warblers

A photo of a Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis)

Inland Thornbill

Acanthiza apicalis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.