Gray Shrikethrush Colluricincla harmonica Scientific name definitions

22·5–25 cm; 58–74 g. Male nominate race has top of head and hindneck rich dark grey, lores white, side of face and neck paler grey than head top, malar area pale grey; mantle, back and scapulars olive-brown, rump and uppertail-coverts dark grey; upper­wing grey with light brownish wash, remiges and greater coverts dusky grey with light grey edging, tail dark grey; chin and upper throat pale grey to off-white, grading to light grey on lower throat (throat occasionally indistinctly streaked), darker grey on breast, light grey on flanks and belly to white or whitish on crissum and undertail-coverts; iris dark reddish-brown; bill black; legs dark grey to black. Female is similar to male, but lores light grey, narrow eyering pale grey, malar area and chin to upper breast streaked dark grey, bill grey, sometimes paler base of lower mandible. Juvenile has broad rufous supercilium, lores brownish-grey, upperparts brown, rump and uppertail-coverts brownish-grey, remiges and wing-coverts broadly edged rufous, underparts heavily streaked, crissum and undertail-coverts white, iris dark brown; first immature male like adult female, but with light rufous-brown supercilium, eyering light rufous-buff, retained juvenile wing feathers, chin and throat with extensive fine streaking, iris dark brown, bill black or dark grey with paler base of lower mandible, first immature female similar but bill grey, base of lower mandible paler; second immature like adult of respective sex (or with malar area, chin and throat more heavily streaked). Races differ in size and in plumage tones: <em>strigata</em> is larger than nominate, with very long bill, plumage darker above, slightly greyer, much paler throat, male lores greyer, female slightly buffier on flanks and belly, more rufous on crissum; <em>rufiventris</em> is smaller than nominate, plainer grey above, throat white to grey, lower underparts buff to pale rufous; brunnea is rather large, with very long tail, much paler and browner than nominate, both sexes with throat and upper breast streaked, female with thin pinkish-buff supercilium, often slight buff tinge below; <em>superciliosa</em> is similar to previous but slightly greyer, with diffuse white supercilium extending behind eye, often faint dark streaks on chin and throat, sexes very similar.

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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.

Wide variety of wooded habitats, mainly dominated by eucalypt (Eucalyptus) or acacia (Acacia), particularly inland; also in Banksia woodland, coastal heath, agricultural areas, gardens, homesteads, exotic pines (Pinus) and rainforest; in drier country frequents riparian areas. In New Guinea inhabits savanna woodland, mangroves, coastal scrub, secondary growth, town gardens, coconut plantations and rubber plantations. Sea-level into mountains; to 1700 m in New Guinea.

Present all year in some localities; appearance at other sites seasonal, may involve dispersal of young. No evidence of large-scale movements, although part of population undertakes altitudinal shifts in winter; some evidence of local movements, although nature and extent not understood. Longest movement of marked individual 22·5 km; 99·5% of ringed birds recovered less than 10 km from site where originally captured.

Invertebrates , mainly insects, also spiders (Araneae) and millipedes (Diplopoda); also vertebrates, including frogs, lizards, small birds and small mammals; also fruits, seeds. Arboreal and terrestrial, feeding at all levels, in habitats with lower canopy or more open understorey spends greater amount of time on ground. In more mesic habitat with high canopies: at New England Tableland (New South Wales), 22·3% of foraging on ground, 7·3% at 1–2 m, 6·7% at 3–5 m, 24·9% at 6–9 m, 35·2% at 10–14 m, 3·6% above15 m; at Bombala (New South Wales), 38% a 0–0·2 m, 23% in shrub (0·2–4 m), 28% in subcanopy (4·1–10 m), 11% in canopy (above 10 m); in Kakadu National Park (Northern Territory), 36% on ground, 14% at 0–2 m, 5% at 2–4 m, 27% at 4–8 m, 18% at 8–14 m. In more open habitats with low canopies: at Big Desert (Victoria), 56% on ground, 5% at 0·5–1 m, 21% at 1–1·5 m, 15% at 1·5–2 m, 3% at 2–3 m; in Dryandra State Forest (Western Australia), 63% on ground, 5% at 0·2–1 m, 14% at 1·1–5 m, 18% above 5 m. Across range, forages on variety of substrates: ground (20–57%), foliage (4–50%), branches (5–55%), trunks (3–21%), low shrubs (6–14%). In Tasmania, may spend less time on twigs and branches and more on trunks of trees. Main capture methods are gleaning, probing and sally-striking on foliage; proportions differ between mainland Australia (glean 61–82%, probe 4–18%, sally-strike 6–20%) and Tasmania (glean 38%, probe 58%, sally-strike 2·5%). Larger prey bashed or wedged into clefts to allow processing; snails dropped on to hard surfaces, and small vertebrates sometimes attacked by two birds in co-operation. Seen to use small sticks to probe in crevices (to flush insects). Readily learns to approach humans for handouts. Joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Song, throughout year (mainly during breeding season), by both sexes, a rich, melodious series of discrete flute-like notes, varying in duration, volume and pitch (often at least one note noticeably louder than rest), finishing with drawn-out note or high clear whistle, much geographical and individual variation, males have c. 16 song phrases, females c. 11, uttered in differing combinations; many transliterations, in Australia e.g. “purr-purr-purr-quéé-yúle”, “wok-che-whitee”, “pip-pip-pip-ho-ee”, “too-too-too-weet”, “purr-purr-purr-wok-wok-wok-ho-whéé”, “yo-ho-ee”, “ee-al ee-al per kwee”, in New Guinea e.g. “wiihoo-wítu, whoo-whee”, “whu-whítu”, “wutchóó- wutchóó-watchóó”, “whi-whi-whi-whi-whi-whi-whi-whi-tsu”, “whitééé”. Also has quiet subsong. Calls include whistling “whit-whit-whit”, “yorick”, “chong”; harsh distress and alarm notes. An accomplished mimic.

Eggs in Jul–Feb in Australia (in N & W starts earlier and more likely to breed also at other times, depending on conditions); in New Guinea nests in Feb–May and Aug–Nov (mainly Oct), nest with eggs in late Sept and late Oct and fledglings in late Oct, implying main breeding activity during second half of dry season and another during middle to late wet season; 1–3 broods per season, up to four attempts if clutches lost (at one New Guinea nest, two broods reared in late dry season and third in late wet season, after a break of 6 months). Territorial throughout year. Nest built by both sexes, a sturdy open cup of bark strips, rootlets, twigs and leaves, lined with grass and finer bark, twigs and rootlets, external diameter 8·3–22·9 cm, height 6·2–12·7 cm, internal diameter 7·9–12 cm, depth 5·5–6·5 cm (size dependent on site, in cavity often small with thin walls, in fork larger with thicker walls), placed in fork or tangle of vegetation, in crevice, on stump, ledge or ground, in man-made object or habitation, at up to 20 m above ground but usually below 3·5 m, occasionally at ground level (recorded in mine shaft); often reuses nest of another species, either relining it or building a nest within it; will reuse site in same season and for several consecutive seasons. Clutch 1–4 eggs, usually 3, white or creamy white, blotched and spotted with grey and olive-brown, nominate race 25·9–33·3 × 21·3–22·9 mm (N races on average somewhat smaller, Tasmanian race somewhat larger); sexes contribute about equally to incubation and brooding during day, only female incubates and broods at night, both parents feed young; incubation period 15–19 days, nestling period 17–18 days; may renest c. 16 days after previous brood fledged. Nests parasitized by Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus). Hatching and fledging success quite variable, 32–91·5% and 20–90%% of eggs, respectively; nest predators include Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus) and Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides). Maximum recorded longevity 12 years 6 months.

Not globally threatened. Widespread in Australia; fairly common to scarce in New Guinea. In Australia, those in E more tolerant of urbanization than those in W, although former show some declines owing to habitat loss and degradation; more common in unlogged areas than in logged ones, and more numerous in larger tracts of habitat than in smaller ones. In New Guinea, appears to be colonizing new areas on N coast and in highlands.