The chowchilla (''Orthonyx spaldingii'') is a
passerine
A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...
in the family
Orthonychidae. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...
to
Australia.
Taxonomy
In their 1999 study,
Schodde and
Mason recognise two adjoining subspecies, ''O. s. spaldingii'' and ''O. s. melasmenus'' with a zone of intergradation.
Description
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
The chowchilla is restricted to upland and lowland
tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in
the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
rainforest
Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfo ...
s of north-eastern
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
.
Behaviour
Diet
Mainly invertebrates, but also small vertebrates.
Voice
Continuous chattering, singing and other complex vocalisations.
Breeding
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
File:Chowchilla.jpg, left, Near Mount Lewis – Australia
File:Chowchilla Orthonyx spaldingii (male).JPG, ''Orthonyx spaldingii'' (male)
References
* BirdLife International. (2007). Species factsheet: Orthonyx spaldingii. Downloaded fro
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.
External links
Image at ADW
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1315452
Orthonyx
Birds of Cape York Peninsula
Endemic birds of Australia
Birds described in 1868