| Chowchilla | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Orthonychidae |
| Genus: | Orthonyx |
| Species: | O. spaldingii |
| Binomial name | |
| Orthonyx spaldingii Ramsay, 1868 |
|
The Chowchilla (Orthonyx spaldingii) is a passerine bird in the family Orthonychidae. It is endemic to Australia.
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In their 1999 study, Schodde and Mason recognise two adjoining subspecies, O. s. spaldingii and O. s. melasmenus with a zone of intergradation.[1]
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.
The Chowchilla is restricted to upland and lowland tropical rainforests of north-eastern Queensland.
Mainly invertebrates, but also small vertebrates.
Continuous chattering, singing and other complex vocalisations.
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.
