The little grassbird (Poodytes gramineus ) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It is found in Australia and in West Papua, Indonesia. These sexually monomorphic birds are found in reed beds, reeds lignum swaps and salt marshes of South Eastern Australia.
The little grassbird is an inconspicuous and dull coloured bird that is heard more regularly than it is seen, known for readily engaging in conversation with people. They feed on insects and small arthropods, usually remaining densely covered areas of vegetation living nomadically with no regular migration patterns.
13.15cm. Olive-brown/ brown-grey bird with a pale eyebrow with dark grey streaks in the throat, crown and cheeks. The upper body is brown-grey, streaked dark grey and the lighter grey under body is also streaky. The wing feathers dark with white edges. Adult male and female grassbirds are indistinguishable to the naked eye; however, males are larger for all parameters aside from the bill.
Little grassbirds live in dense wetland vegetation, reeds, rushes, lignum, tidal marshes, salt lakes and mangroves. They use feathers to line their nests.
The little grassbird is found across Eastern Australia and Tasmania, inland to Central Australia and South-Western Australia. It is also found in New Guinea.
Breeding period from August to December, or after rain. Nests are deep and cup shaped consisting of grass, twigs and stems lined with feathers typically of the purple swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus ) situated in tall grasses, reeds and low shrubs. Clutch consists of 3-5 whitish/pink-white, grey speckled eggs.
Observations of breeding biology and sex allocation have proven a highly male-biased population sex ratio, with some breeding territories having numerous extra males. There is little evidence to determine whether little grassbirds breed cooperatively. Male and female growth showed no notable difference.
