The Shy heathwren (Hylacola cauta) is endemic to Australia and a member of the Acanthizidae family. Shy heathwren replaces the Chestnut-rumped in southern Australia’s heathy mallee. Despite being within five kilometers of each other north of Bendigo, the species are still separated by habitat, with the Shy remaining in whipstick mallee thickets.
The only place where it is found is in coastal dunes and sandplain heaths in the southwest. Its range has been reduced to a fraction of what it once was due to the clearing of mallee. Similar to the Chestnut-rumped, the Shy Hylacola is also a sedentary ground forager, bounding along the ground cock-tailed, grabbing insects and seeds as it goes.
It is likely that the small feeding parties that remain together after breeding are composed of an adult pair with their young of the year. Before the next breeding season, young birds are dispersed, and birds nest in pairs. Females incubate while males maintain territories, often beginning before dawn, singing from bushes.
As with the chestnut-rumped, his song is full of mimicry and variety. Nestlings and fledglings are fed and cared for by both sexes. A Shy Hylacola bears no resemblance to a Chestnut-rumped Hylacola, despite its name. Their timidity and elusiveness are similar. From Murchison River, WA, eastwards to Wyalong and Round Hill Nature Reserve, NSW, Shy Hylacola inhabits heathy mallee. Also known as Shy Hylacola and Mallee Heathwren.
Shy Heathwren measures about 135-140 mm in length. Male birds are slightly larger than females. The male upper parts are deep brown, the lower back is darker; the rump is rich chestnut. A large white speculum covers the wings. The tail has a black subterminal band and a white tip. The eyebrows are bright white. Black streaks on the underparts of the bird; the undertail is chestnut in color. The eyes are yellowish brown in color. Brown bill. The feet are brown in color. A female has cream brows and undersurfaces with coarse dusky streaks; she has a small speculum. Moreover, immature adults are a bit dully streaked and washed russet below.
Shy Heathwren makes a loud, sharp call called tchak when feeding or disturbed. There is a combination of trills and cadences in the song, chee-chee-chick-a-dee, along with other bird calls. Breeding and nesting take place from August to November. In a prickly shrub or amid plants at the base of a shrub or tree, a nest is hidden in a dome of fine twigs, grasses, and bark strips lining the chamber with fine grasses and down.
There are two or three eggs; pale olive-grey with scattered brown spots, often forming a zone at the large end; oval to tapered-oval, about 20 x 14 millimeters, usually oval to tapered-oval. Females are responsible for incubation. Also, probably no races. Read More – The Cute Southern Whiteface
