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Malleefowl
Scientific name: Leipoa ocellata
Image: Andrew Silcocks
Description
The Malleefowl is a large bird with strong feet that lives on the ground. Males and
females are similar.
Distribution
The Malleefowl lives in semi-arid parts of mainland Australia, in New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Habitat
Malleefowl live in mallee eucalypt woodlands with a shrubby understorey.
Malleefowl prefer to live in areas that have not been burnt for 40-60 years.
Feeding
Malleefowl eat seeds, flowers and buds, and sometimes bugs. Malleefowl scratch
around for food on the ground or low shrubs.
Breeding
The Malleefowl uses its strong feet to scrape leaves and sand into a large pile. The
female bird lays her eggs into a hole in the mound and covers them up. As the leaf
litter rots it gets hot, which keeps the eggs warm. The male Malleefowl checks the
temperature of the mound, and scrapes leaves onto or off the mound to keep the
temperature just right. When they hatch, the chicks dig out of the hole and can
look after themselves straight away.
Conservation Status
Nationally Vulnerable
Mallee Emu-wren
Scientific name: Stipiturus mallee
Image: BirdLife Australia
Description
The Mallee Emu-wren is a tiny bird, about 15 centimetres long including its tail,
which is 1.5 times the length of its body. The male has a blue face and blue bib but
the female does not.
Distribution
The Mallee Emu-wren is now found only in Victoria, where it lives in Murray–
Sunset, Hattah-Kulkyne and Wyperfeld National Parks.
Habitat
Mallee Emu-wrens live in dense Spinifex grass in old mallee woodland that has
not been burnt for at least 15 years.
Feeding
Mallee Emu-wrens mostly feed in clumps of Spinifex and low shrubs, as well as
occasionally on the ground, where they eat small insects, mainly beetles.
Breeding
Mallee Emu-wrens usually lay three eggs in a nest made of grass, strips of bark
and Spinifex leaves, and lined with soft material. The female sits on the eggs and
the male and female feed the babies when they hatch.
Conservation Status
Nationally Endangered
Regent Parrot
Scientific name: Polytelis anthopeplus
Image: Andrew Silcocks
Description
The Regent Parrot is a slim parrot with a long tail. The Regent Parrot's call is often
heard long before the birds appear.
Distribution
The Regent Parrot has two separate populations, one in the Murray Mallee region
and the other in Western Australia.
Habitat
The Regent Parrot is found in River Red Gum, floodplain and woodland habitats
where it breeds in old-growth tree hollows. The Regent Parrot will travel large
distances to mallee habitat to feed.
Feeding
The Regent Parrot eats seeds of grasses and plants and cereal crops, especially
wheat. It also eats buds and flowers, and insects. It feeds in pairs or small groups,
usually on the ground, but also in trees.
Conservation Status
Nationally Vulnerable
Red-lored Whistler
Scientific name: Pachycephala rufogularis
Image: Chris Tzaros
Description
The Red-lored Whistler grows to 20cm long and has a conspicuous whistle
followed by a ‘see-saw breath-like sound.
Distribution
Red-lored Whistlers are found in the Riverland Biosphere Reserve, and in the Big
Desert, Wyperfeld, Murray-Sunset and Nombinnie areas. Recent large fires in
Ngarkat and Billiatt Conservation Parks have greatly reduced or eliminated the
species from these reserves.
Habitat
Red-lored Whistlers live in mallee eucalypt woodlands, with a shrubby
understorey, especially mallee that has been unburned for 21-44 years.
Feeding
Red-lored Whistlers eat insects and other invertebrates and forages on or close to
the ground.
Breeding
Red-lored Whistlers breed in mallee eucalypts from 5-8m tall.
Conservation Status
Nationally Vulnerable
Black-eared Miner
Scientific name: Manorina melanotis
Image: Chris Tzaros
Description
The Black-eared Miner is a stockily built honeyeater, about 20cm long, with a
black face mask.
Distribution
Black-eared Miners live in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia, Victoria
and New South Wales. Recent surveys have found them in the Riverland
Biosphere Reserve and Murray Sunset National Park. Their status in Scotia
Sanctuary and Tarawi Nature Reserve (NSW) is less well known. In January 2014
fire wiped out an important population in Bronzewing Flora and Fauna Reserve
(Vic).
Habitat
Black-eared Miners live in mallee eucalypt woodlands, with a shrubby
understorey, and like mallee that has not been burnt for more than 40 years.
Feeding
Black-eared Miners eat invertebrates and nectar.
Breeding
The Black-eared Miners form small family groups that work together to raise
chicks. They can interbreed with Yellow-throated Miners, resulting in hybrid birds.
These hybrid offspring are not true Black-eared Miners.
Conservation Status
Nationally Endangered
Western Whipbird
Scientific name: Psophodes nigrogularis
Image: BirdLife Australia
Description
The Western Whipbird is a stockily built bird that is about 25cm long. It has a
short triangular crest on top of its head. It is a shy bird that spends most of its
time on the ground or in bushes. It is usually heard rather than seen, making a
sound like a squeaky gate.
Distribution
The eastern subspecies of the Western Whipbird is largely found on the Yorke and
Eyre Peninsulas in South Australia. Scientists believe there may also be a very
small population in the Murray Mallee in the Ngarkat/Beg Desert area.
Habitat
Western Whipbirds live in mallee eucalypt woodlands, with a dense shrubby
understorey, especially mallee that has been unburned for 10-25 years.
Feeding
Western Whipbirds search for invertebrates on the ground.
Breeding
The female makes a nest of sticks and bark, which is lined with grasses, in shrubs
near the ground. The female also sits on the eggs. Both parents feed the young
birds.
Conservation Status
Nationally Vulnerable (Endangered in Victoria)