A medium-sized scrubwren of high-elevation montane forest. Nominate race has forehead variably ochraceous-buff. crown and upperparts olive-green with indistinct dark brown subterminal bar; facial area and paler narrow eyering ochraceous buff, merging into olive on flanks; iris dark brown to golden-brown; bill brown to black; legs greyish-brown to tan. Differs from S. nouhuysi mainly in somewhat smaller size, lack of rusty colour on face and throuat. Sexes alike. Juvenile is olive-green to dark green above, with pale forehead, sometimes dark-tipped crown feathers (giving scaled effect), tail browner eyering yellowish to buffy, underparts olive-yellow, sometimes with faint darker streaking. Race buergersi is browner above, more brownish-ochraceous below; meeki is very green above (as some nominate), more distinct rufous wash on throat and under-parts, abdomen darker olive.
Not Threatened
A medium-sized scrubwren of high-elevation montane forest. Nominate race has forehead variably ochraceous-buff. crown and upperparts olive-green with indistinct dark brown subterminal bar; facial area and paler narrow eyering ochraceous buff, merging into olive on flanks; iris dark brown to golden-brown; bill brown to black; legs greyish-brown to tan. Differs from S. nouhuysi mainly in somewhat smaller size, lack of rusty colour on face and throuat. Sexes alike. Juvenile is olive-green to dark green above, with pale forehead, sometimes dark-tipped crown feathers (giving scaled effect), tail browner eyering yellowish to buffy, underparts olive-yellow, sometimes with faint darker streaking. Race buergersi is browner above, more brownish-ochraceous below; meeki is very green above (as some nominate), more distinct rufous wash on throat and under-parts, abdomen darker olive.
10 – 11.5 cm
Taxonomy: Acanthiza papuensis De Vis, 1894, Mount Maneao, south-eastern New Guinea. Three subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * buergersi Stresemann, 1921 - C cordillera of New Guinea from Weyland Mts E to Sepik Mts and Central Highlands. * meeki Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1913 - Jayawijaya Mts, in WC New Guinea. * papuensis (De Vis, 1894) - Eastern Highlands and mountains of SE New Guinea.
Upper montane forest and secondary growth, especially low dense bushy trees alongside racks, mainly at 2000 – 3500 m; sometimes as low as 1500m, rarely down to 850 m. Overlaps mainly with S. nouhuysi, and at lower limits also sometimes with S. perspicillatus.
Insectivorous. Usually seen singly or in small parties of up to four individuals. Forages from low down to middle storey, occasionally higher; gleans from branches, twigs and leaves, and often well concealed inside dense bushy growth.
May breed mainly in less wet Jul-Oct season, but recorded once in Apr. Nest a teardrop-shaped structure with side entrance and small porch or hood, covered externally with green moss, some of this dangling below as mossy “tail”, lined with dried leaves of scrambling bamboo and feathers; 1.5 – 1.75 m above ground, suspended from e.g. scrambling bamboo and sheltered by overhanging vegetation. All nests found so far contained only 1 egg, dirty pale fawn, slightly darker at larger end, with sparse fine purple-brown spots all over and fine dark brown squiggles and lines mostly at larger end. No other information.