Alternative names: Black-headed Logrunner; Spalding's Logrunner; Northern Chowchilla; Spalding's Spinetail
- Orthonyx spaldingii
Identification
24 - 29cm. A dark brown bird with a pale eyering. The tail feathers are tipped with spines.
- Male with black head, white throat and breast and dark brown upperparts
- Female with orange throat and upper breast
- Juveniles are browner and have a cinnamon mottling.
Distribution
North east Queensland, Australia.
A common but restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
There are 2 subspecies:
- O. s. melasmenus from Mt Amos and Mt Finnegan south to Thornton Range
- O. s. spaldingii in Macalister and Herberton Range south to Seaview and Paluma ranges
Habitat
Tropical rainforests with dense undergrowth. Occurs at 450 - 1500m, locally lower.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, takes sometimes also frogs, small lizards or seeds.
Forages on the ground, removing leaf litter and large objects by sideways kicks with feet and then scratching the exposed ground using its legs. Creates characteristic cleared patches of leaf litter which are often attended by other species like Grey-headed Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Fernwren or Spotted Catbird.
It builds a domed nest from sticks near the ground; 1-2 white eggs are laid.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chowchilla. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chowchilla
