New Caledonia Grassbird

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New Caledonia Grassbird
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Infraorder: Passerida
Superfamily: Sylvioidea
Family: Megaluridae (see text)
Genus: Megalurulus
Species: M. mariei
Binomial name
Megalurulus mariei
Verreaux, 1869

The New Caledonia Grassbird (Megalurulus mariei), also known as the New Caledonia Thicketbird, is a bird species. Previously placed in the in the "Old World Warbler" family Sylviidae, it does not seem to be a close relative of the typical warblers; probably it belongs in the newly-recognized grass-warbler family Megaluridae. This species is endemic to New Caledonia.

This is a long-tailed, medium sized "warbler" with a distinctive bold white supercillium. The bird’s plumage is unstreaked, with olive-brown uppersides (including the crown and wings) and creamy white undersides.

The New Caledonia Grassbird typically inhabits scrubby areas in the lowlands and hills of New Caledonia, particularly maquis minier with ferns, but also secondary forest and grasslands, and has even been seen in dense rainforest. It is generally solitary or seen in pairs and is non-migratory. The New Caledonian Grassbird favours dense cover and is retiring in its habits and is a difficult bird to observe or study.

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