Logrunners

Logrunners, belonging to the clade Orthonyx, include three species native to Australia and New Guinea, with some classifications linking them to the Cinclosomatidae family. These birds, known for their stiff tails used for support while foraging, exhibit sexual dichromatism with males and females displaying distinct color differences in plumage. The Australian logrunner, primarily found in northeastern New South Wales and southeast Queensland, shows weak flight capabilities due to its short, rounded wings. The Papuan logrunner is considered a separate species found in New Guinea. The chowchilla, larger and distinguished by its black plumage, is native to northeast Queensland. Fossil records show three prehistoric species, dating back to the Miocene and Pleistocene eras. Logrunners are carnivorous, hunting insects and small vertebrates, and display a unique social structure, being monogamous with males often staying with their birth family for defense purposes, though only females feed the young. They breed typically during the southern winter, laying unusually tubular-shaped white eggs with extended incubation periods. Their offspring gain independence quickly compared to other Australian songbirds. Nesting on the ground, their nests are built with stick domes to withstand heavy rain. Logrunners can live for several years, with the chowchilla having an average lifespan of around five years and potential to live up to seventeen.