Chowchilla Orthonyx spaldingii Scientific name definitions

24–29 cm; male 150–215g, female 113–144 g. Male nominate race has crown and nape black, eyering pale blue-grey, upperparts dark olive-brown, upperwing dark olive-brown, tail dark black-brown; chin, throat and underparts white, flanks dusky; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Female is similar to male, but has chin, throat and breast orange-rufous. Juvenile has upperpart feathers rusty rufous with pale central shafts and blackish-brown tips, upperwing-coverts tipped dark rufous, underparts rusty rufous with darker mottling; immature similar to respective adult, but retains most of juvenile feathers of wing (particularly coverts) and tail. Race melasmenus is smaller and darker than nominate, with black of nape not clearly demarcated from mantle, bill proportionately longer.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Tropical rainforest , including primary forest and areas of regrowth 20–30 years old, usually with dense undergrowth. At 450–1500 m; also, uncommonly, in some lowland areas with high amount of rainfall.

Sedentary. All recaptures of marked individuals made less than 10 km from initial ringing site.

Insects and other terrestrial invertebrates; occasionally frogs, small lizards, and seeds. Forages on ground. Initially removes leaf litter and larger objects by sideways kicks with feet, and then, once ground exposed, uses legs alternately to scratch from front to back on ground, picking up uncovered food items with bill, tail occasionally used as brace; produces characteristic cleared patches in leaf litter. Often attended by other birds, including Grey-headed Robin (Heteromyias cinereifrons), Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus), Yellow-throated Scrubwren (Sericornis citreogularis), Fernwren (Oreoscopus gutturalis) and Black-eared Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis), and by mammals, e.g. musky rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus).

Song a loud, ringing “chow-chilla-chow-chow-chilla” or “chowy-chook-chook chowy-chook-chook” with rhythmic, chanting quality, sharp bursts connected by warbling sounds; detectable dialects used over areas of 26–75 ha, occupied by a number of groups, with sharp borders between dialects usually corresponding to topographic features (e.g. stream, ridge). Quiet song a soft version given by widely separated members of group. Calls include hen-like clucking when agitated or alarmed and during chases, and low throaty “grrr grrr grrr” by individuals when foraging close together; alarm a loud squawk.

Season extends throughout year, eggs in May–Feb (usually Jul–Dec), young leave nest in wet season; usually one brood per season. Monogamous, forms permanent pair-bond; lives in groups, but co-operative breeding unreported, although female often provisioned by two males. Territorial all year. Nest, built by female, taking from 2 weeks to several months, a large, bulky domed structure with side entrance and approach platform, made of sticks, lined internally with fine rootlets and moss; externally 11·5–25 cm (mean 20·1 cm) high, 22–30 cm (24·8 cm) wide, 23–30 cm (27·9 cm) deep, entrance 6·2–10·5 × 16–20 cm (7·7 × 10 cm), entrance platform 2–20 cm (10·7 cm); hidden in low dense vegetation on or near ground, occasionally up to 3·5 m, or placed on plant, such as tree-fern. Clutch 1 egg, white, average 37 × 26·3 mm; incubation by female, sitting for 46–58% of time, period 25 days; chick fed by female, leaves nest at 22–27 days, thereafter fed by both parents; young accompanies adults for several months, and may remain in natal territory for c. 1 year. Hatching success of 20 eggs 75%; fledging success of 18 chicks 67%.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Queensland Wet Tropics EBA. Common. Has suffered some reduction of range as a result of habitat loss, but no obvious current threats.