Gawler Ranges Short-tailed Grasswren, Short-tailed Grasswren (Gawler Ranges)  |  

Short-tailed grasswrens are medium-sized, slim-bodied and rather short-tailed grasswrens with grey-brown to dark rufous/dark red-brown upper body with fine black and white streaking and dusky breast-streaking: Adult females are differentiated from males by a small rufouspatch on the rear flanks. Short-tailed grasswrens (Gawler Ranges) are similar to striated grasswrens (A. striatus), western grasswrens (A. textilis) and the Flinders Ranges subspecies of short-tailed grasswren (A. m. merrotsyi). Short-tailed grasswrens (Gawler Ranges) are distinguishable from striated grasswrens by their significantly shorter tail and slightly heavier bill, as well as other subtle differences in colouration: the subspecies is distinguishable from western grasswrens by their significantly shorter tail, smaller size, slimmer appearance, finer bill and considerably brighter rufous upperparts. The Gawler Ranges subspecies of short-tailed grasswren is distinguishable from the Flinders Ranges subspecies by their noticeably darker colouration, more coarsely streaked chin, throat and breast and darker buff belly and flanks. Short-tailed grasswrens are said to have a high pitched contact call and are said to squeak when issuing an alarm call, however little else is known of their song.