Whipbirds

The Psophodidae family of passerine birds encompasses species primarily found in Australia and its adjacent regions. This bird family, known for its complex taxonomical classification, traditionally includes whipbirds and wedgebills, with some experts also counting quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers as members, while others argue for a separate family, Cinclosomatidae. Once grouped with logrunners and sometimes extended to include the Malaysian rail-babbler under the family Eupetidae, recent studies have since clarified these relationships, showing the Malaysian rail-babbler to be an unrelated passerine. Whipbirds and wedgebills, ranging from 19 to 31 cm in length, are typically olive-green or brown with a crest, inhabit varied Australian ecosystems from rainforest to dry scrub, and are recognized for their terrestrial nature, preferring to walk or run rather than fly. Their diet mainly consists of insects and invertebrates, though quail-thrushes in the desert also consume seeds. These birds construct cup-shaped nests in shrubs or on the ground and lay two to three eggs. Among the species listed are various whipbirds, the Papuan whipbird, and the chirruping and chiming wedgebills. Conservation statuses vary, with the western whipbird being near-threatened and the Papuan whipbird data deficient due to limited information.