Plains-wanderer
EPBC Status: Critically Endangered
SPRAT Species Profile: Pedionomus torquatus — Plains-wanderer
Found in: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia
Threatened Species Strategy Scorecards:
Plains Wanderer Year 3 scorecard 2018 (PDF - 525.62 KB)
Plains Wanderer Year 3 scorecard 2018 (DOCX - 460.8 KB)
Year 3 Scorecard Summary (2018)
The Plains-wanderer is a ground‑dwelling bird that lives in grasslands. Once widespread across south‑east Australia, declines were first observed in the 1960s, from overgrazing during droughts and predation by introduced carnivores and native birds of prey. Habitat loss and degradation also remain key threats, exacerbated by a warming climate and small population size.
The species is cryptic and difficult to monitor, so population trends are hard to measure. Declines are inferred in the last decade, particularly in parts of Victoria and NSW, but insurance populations in captivity have also been successfully established in these states.
Recovery efforts have focused on habitat management, including improved grassland stewardship and fox control. The Threatened Species Strategy has contributed to Plains‑wanderer conservation by assisting with the establishment of captive breeding and also by supporting improved grazing practices and fox control on areas of private land in the Riverina. These actions to support the Plains-wanderer are expected to lead to an improved trajectory over the next few years.
Further information
- Threatened species strategy
- 20 birds by 2020
- 20 mammals by 2020
- 30 plants by 2020
- Three year review of progress on priority bird and mammal species
Please note that this scorecard is due for review in Year 5 of the Threatened Species Strategy (2020). If you would like to contribute information on this species please provide your contact details to ThreatenedSpeciesCommissioner@awe.gov.au
Photo credit: © Dean Ingwersen (BirdLife Australia)