View source for Fernwren

{{Short description|Genus of birds}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Fernwren
| image = Fernwren.jpg
| status = EN
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2022 |title=''Oreoscopus gutturalis'' |volume=2022 |page=e.T22704520A210662799 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22704520/210662799 |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>
| genus = Oreoscopus
| parent_authority = [[Alfred John North|North]], 1905
| species = gutturalis
| authority = ([[Charles Walter De Vis|De Vis]], 1889)
}}
The '''fernwren''' ('''''Oreoscopus gutturalis''''') is a [[species]] of [[bird]] in the family [[Acanthizidae]]. It is [[monotypic]] within the [[genus]] '''''Oreoscopus'''''.<ref>Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. {{ISBN|978-84-96553-42-2}}</ref>
It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to northern [[Queensland]] in [[Australia]]. Its natural [[habitat]]s are [[tropical moist lowland forest]] and [[tropical moist montane forest]].
==Taxonomy==
The fernwren was first described by the English zoologist and ornithologist [[Charles Walter De Vis]] in 1889, and grouped with the scrubwrens as ''[[Sericornis]] gutturalis''. It was later included in the genus ''[[Crateroscelis]]'', along with three species of mouse-warblers found in New Guinea, but was subsequently moved to the monotypic genus ''Oreoscopus'' (established by [[Alfred John North|North]] in 1905). The fernwren is a basal (subfamily) member of Acanthizidae and sister to the genus ''[[Pachycare]]''.<ref>Schodde, R. and Christidis, L. (2014). "Relicts from Tertiary Australasia: undescribed families and subfamilies of songbirds (Passeriformes) and their zoogeographic signal". ''Zootaxa''. 3786 (5): 501–522.</ref><ref>Gill, F. and D. Donsker, eds. (2020). IOC World Bird List (v 10.1). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.1.  http://www.worldbirdnames.org/</ref>
The generic name ''Oreoscopus'' derives from the Ancient Greek ''oros'' meaning 'mountain' and ''scopos'' meaning 'guardian' or 'watcher'.<ref >{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling|title=Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names|last=Jobling|first=James A.|page=283|access-date = 2020-04-16}}</ref> The specific epithet ''gutturalis'' is Mediaeval Latin for 'of the throat', referring to the prominent white throat of this species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling|title=Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names|last=Jobling|first=James A.|page=182|access-date = 2020-04-16}}</ref> It was also known colloquially as the collared scrubwren.<ref name=Pizzey>Pizzey, Graham; Doyle, Roy (1980) ''A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia''. Collins Publishers, Sydney. ISBN o73222436-5</ref>
==Description==
The fernwren has a white eyebrow and throat, enclosing a dark brown face. Beneath the white throat, it has a black bib.<ref name=Morcombe>Morcombe, Michael (2012) ''Field Guide to Australian Birds''. Pascal Press, Glebe, NSW. Revised edition. {{ISBN|978174021417-9}}</ref> It has a long-slender bill. The upperparts are dark olive-brown and the underparts paler.<ref name=Simpson>Simpson, Ken, Day, N. and Trusler, P. (6th edn., 1999). ''Field Guide to the Birds of Australia''. Ringwood, Victoria: Penguin Books Australia {{ISBN|067087918-5}}.</ref> It is {{convert|12|-|14|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length. The female is very similar to the male. Juveniles are dark brown without the white facial markings of the adult.<ref name=Simpson/>
==Distribution and habitat==
The fernwren is found in northeast Queensland rainforest between {{convert|300|-|1500|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea-level,<ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Oreoscopus gutturalis'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22704520A93973740 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22704520A93973740.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> although more often above {{convert|650|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Simpson/> It is found in the [[Paluma Range National Park|Paluma Range]], near Townsville, and from the [[Tully Gorge National Park]] northwards to [[Cape Tribulation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ebird.org/map/fernwr1|title=eBird species map: Fernwren|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref><ref name=Pizzey/> It is sedentary and classified as [[endangered]] on the [[IUCN Red List]].<ref name=IUCN/>
==Behaviour==
The fernwren forages in the moist leaf-litter amongst the ferns and dense shrubbery, particularly in shady gullies of highland rainforests.<ref name=Morcombe/> As it searches through the accumulated debris of the forest floor, it frequently bows its head and flicks its short tail.<ref name=Simpson/> It feeds on arthropods and small skinks ([[Scincidae]]).<ref name=HBW>Gregory, P. (2020). "Fernwren (Oreoscopus gutturalis), version 1.0." In ''Birds of the World'' (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.fernwr1.01</ref> It has a variety of calls, including high-pitched squeaks and whistles, a softer chattering sequence, and a buzzing, scolding call.<ref name=Morcombe/><ref name=Simpson/>
==Breeding==
In the breeding season from July to January (mainly October and November),<ref name=HBW/> the male and female fernwrens together construct a domed nest, often hidden beneath an overhanging bank, fallen log or in a small cave amid the ferns.<ref name=Morcombe/> The nest is composed of twigs, rootlets, moss, and lichen.<ref name=Pizzey/> The female lays a clutch of two eggs, which are glossy white, sometimes finely spotted chestnut and tan.<ref name=Pizzey/> The eggs measure {{convert|22|mm|in|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|17|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name=Morcombe/> Incubation by the female lasts about 29 days, and nestlings are fed by both sexes for 21-23 days.<ref name=HBW/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commonscat|Oreoscopus gutturalis}}
{{Wikispecies|Oreoscopus gutturalis}}
{{Passeriformes|Pa.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1587309}}
[[Category:Acanthizidae]]
[[Category:Birds of Cape York Peninsula]]
[[Category:Endemic birds of Australia]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1889]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]