Chowchilla
| Chowchilla | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pair, Paluma, Queensland | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Orthonychidae |
| Genus: | Orthonyx |
| Species: | O. spaldingii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Orthonyx spaldingii Ramsay, 1868
| |
The chowchilla (Orthonyx spaldingii) is a passerine bird in the family Orthonychidae. It is endemic to Australia.
Taxonomy
[edit]In their 1999 study, Schodde and Mason recognise two adjoining subspecies, O. s. spaldingii and O. s. melasmenus with a zone of intergradation.[2]
Description
[edit]Unmistakable thrush-like, ground-dwelling, birds. Males and females largely dark brown with white eye-ring, tail-feather shafts extend as spines beyond feather-vanes; males with white throat, breast and belly; females with bright rufous throat and upper breast, white lower breast and belly.
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The chowchilla is restricted to upland and lowland tropical rainforests of north-eastern Queensland.
Behaviour
[edit]Diet
[edit]Mainly invertebrates, but also small vertebrates.
Voice
[edit]Continuous chattering, singing and other complex vocalisations.
Breeding
[edit]Nests on or near ground, often on ferns, stumps or logs. Builds a bulky, dome-shaped stick-nest with a clutch of one, possibly sometimes two, white eggs.
Gallery
[edit]-
Near Mount Lewis – Australia -
Male (left). female (right)
.JPG)
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Orthonyx spaldingii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22704977A118670720. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22704977A118670720.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Schodde R, Mason IJ (1999). The Directory of Australian Birds : Passerines. A Taxonomic and Zoogeographic Atlas of the Biodiversity of Birds in Australia and its Territories. Collingwood, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. pp. x 851 pp. ISBN 0-643-06456-7.
- BirdLife International. (2007). Species factsheet: Orthonyx spaldingii. Downloaded from [1] on 9 August 2007
- Higgins, P.J.; & Peter, J.M. (eds). (2003). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 6: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553762-9
External links
[edit]- Image at ADW Archived 16 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
