Grass Wren

9.5 cm. An indistinct white superciliary. Whitish buff below, buffier on the sides of the belly. Crown streaked black on buff background. Back and rump strongly streaked black and whitish beige. Tail and wings rusty with black barring. Song a sequence of staccato strophes, each with a different character introduced by a "tsi" syllable vocalization 1 and 2 . Call is a fast "jtt jtt jtt jtt jtt jtt" as in vocalization 3. Forages close to the ground in tall grass areas, when singing, sits usually high up on top of a grass clump. Probably September-December. Uncommon in original undisturbed grassland, also in cerrado grass land. Throughout. Was originally well distributed in Estado S<C4>o Paulo e.g. at<8E>Ipanema, Itarar<CA>, Borda da Mata, Vendinha, Itatinga, and several locations further north, e. g. near<8E>Franca, Itapetininga. It occurs, or has occurred regularly, close to the coast at <8E>Iguape, Pariquera Acu ^40 ^119 . From sea level to 1000 meters. Avoids pastures and is therefore close to extinction in Estado S<C4>o Paulo due to habitat destruction ^119 . Near Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, this wren inhabits marismas, brackish water reed swamps and does not seem to be threatened. 15854 Song. Serra da Canastra, 11<10>12<10>98. Sunny, 25<91>C. Campo, relatively high grassy plains.: 7070 Song. Serra da Canastra, 11<10>12<10>98. Sunny, 28<91>C. Grassy plains.: 15270 Call. Serra da Canastra, 11<10>12<10>98. Sunny, 28<91>C. Grassy plains.: 857 Song, 11<10>24<10>2002. Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, marismas, sunny, 25<91>C.: 8583 >: