One of the most elusive and precious inhabitants of Deep Creek National Park is the Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus intermedius), a tiny, delicate bird found only in a few isolated pockets of the Fleurieu Peninsula and Mount Lofty Ranges. This subspecies is listed as endangered, with Deep Creek National Park providing one of its most important remaining refuges following decades of habitat loss and fragmentation across its range.
The Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren is a bird of exquisite beauty and fragility. Measuring around 10 centimetres from beak to tail, it is easily recognised by its six fine, hair-like tail feathers that resemble an emu’s plume. The male’s shimmering blue throat and chest contrast softly with his warm brown plumage, making him one of the most striking yet seldom-seen birds in South Australia.
This tiny wren lives exclusively in dense heath and sedgeland, where it moves mouse-like through the undergrowth, foraging for insects and spiders. Its dependence on such specific habitat makes it especially vulnerable. Land clearing, inappropriate fire regimes, and predation by introduced species such as foxes and cats pose ongoing threats to its survival.
For those exploring Deep Creek’s trails, sighting a Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren is a rare and special privilege — a fleeting glimpse of a species found almost nowhere else. Its presence underscores the park’s vital role in conserving South Australia’s unique biodiversity and protecting what remains of this fragile ecosystem.