Chowchilla

The chowchilla, a passerine bird endemic to Australia, is a distinctive thrush-like species that forages on the forest floor. Both sexes are predominantly dark brown and feature a striking white eye-ring. Their tail feathers are unique, with shafts that protrude as spines beyond the feather vanes.

Identification Tips

Males can be identified by their white throat, breast, and belly, while females exhibit a bright rufous throat and upper breast, transitioning to a white lower breast and belly.

Habitat

This species is found in the upland and lowland tropical rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, where it blends into the dense undergrowth.

Distribution

The chowchilla is restricted to the northeastern region of Queensland, Australia, where it is a resident bird.

Behaviour

Chowchillas are ground-dwellers, often seen foraging through leaf litter for their prey.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, supplemented occasionally by small vertebrates they encounter in the forest litter.

Song & Calls

The chowchilla is known for its continuous chattering and complex vocalisations, which resonate through the rainforest.

Breeding

Breeding chowchillas construct a bulky, dome-shaped stick nest on or near the ground, often utilizing ferns, stumps, or logs for support. They typically lay a clutch of one, and sometimes possibly two, white eggs.

Conservation status

The chowchilla is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, it does not face any imminent threats to its survival.