Scrubbirds

Scrubbirds, encompassing just two species, the rufous and noisy scrubbirds, are elusive and predominantly terrestrial birds native to Australia. Although once so rare that the noisy scrubbird was considered extinct until 1961, conservation efforts have bolstered its numbers from an estimated 40-45 birds in 1962 to around 1,200 by 2002, yet it remains endangered. Both species share a resemblance in size and cryptic coloration to the common starling, measuring approximately 20 cm in length with drab browns and blacks, and prefer dense vegetation for habitat—the rufous scrubbird in temperate rainforests and the noisy scrubbird in coastal heaths and gullies. These birds are adept at quickly moving across the ground but display weak flight capabilities. Nevertheless, male scrubbirds are noted for their powerful and far-reaching calls that can be painfully loud at close range, while the females are solely responsible for nest building and rearing the young. Scrubbirds are an ancient family, speculated to have a close relationship with lyrebirds, bowerbirds, and treecreepers, having evolved from the great corvid radiation in the Australia-New Guinea region. The rufous scrubbird can be found between north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, and the noisy scrubbird east of Albany in Western Australia.