Rufous Scrub-bird
Atrichornis rufescens
The rufous scrub-bird is a rare, ancient songbird found in dense rainforests across parts of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. Less than 2,000 of these birds remain, and their survival is threatened by habitat loss and natural disasters like bushfires. We have started a DNA project to learn more about the bird’s genetics, which could help guide future conservation efforts.
Why is it in trouble?
Small population size
With fewer than 2,000 birds left, the rufous scrub-bird is vulnerable to chance events and population loss.
Habitat damage
Bushfires, especially the Black Summer fires, have destroyed large areas of rainforest and reduced the bird’s habitat.
Fragmented populations
The remaining birds exist in separate colonies, making it harder for them to mix and maintain healthy genetic diversity.
Why is it difficult?
Extremely elusive
Rufous scrub-birds live in very thick rainforest undergrowth where they are hard to see.
Small and fast
The birds are quick and agile, making them difficult to catch for research.
Spread out over rugged terrain
Birds occur in isolated colonies across mountainous forest regions, which makes fieldwork challenging.
What are we doing?
Research and Monitoring
Scientists from ANU and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water are collecting DNA from different scrub-bird colonies. They aim to understand the genetic differences between groups so they can plan future conservation actions.
Future research
Future work will continue DNA analysis across all colonies to build a full picture of the species’ genetic health. This will underpin efforts to boost resilience, guide any captive breeding programs and ensure that conservation actions help keep the species from disappearing.
