Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii)

Other Names (World)
Australian Logrunner, Logrunner, Brown Log-runner, Spine-tailed Log-runner, Southern Log-runner, Spine-tailed Chowchilla, Southern Chowchilla, Scrub-quail, Scrub-hen, Spinetail, Jungle Spinetail

Family
Orthonychidae (Logrunners)

Size
18 - 20 cm

First Described (Guide)
Ranzani, 1822

Derivation
Or'-thon-yx - Gk, orthos, straight; Gk, onyx, claw: temminckii - C.J. Temminck (1778 - 1858), Dutch ornithologist, Director of the Natural History Museum at Leiden, collector and author

Habitat
Subtropical rainforests with a dense canopy and an accumulation of leaf-litter on the ground. Also in areas of dense thickets, such as lantana and blackbery, in otherwise open areas near rainforest.

Range (Guide)

Australia.

Eastern Australia, from extreme south-eastern Queensland (Blackall, Bunya Mts) southern in mountain ranges and coastal regions to central-eastern New South Wales (Wollongong, Illawarra district).

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Usually in pairs, particularly in spring but also small parties of five or six after breeding.

Food
Invertebrates, mainly insects.

Voice
A far-carrying 'be-kweek-kweek-kweek-kweek', repeated often. Also a short, throaty, piercing, 'quick' or 'kweek'.

(30Kb) © ? (1)

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (30)...)

Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii) [XC351481]
by Michael Fuhrer from O'Reilly, Scenic Rim Regional, Queensland, Australia (call, scratching)

Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii) [XC609014]
by Marc Anderson from Enfield State Forest, New South Wales, Australia (song)

Nest
Domed, with a side-entrance, composed of sticks and twigs placed on a platform of short, stout sticks, and covered by a thick layer of moss and leaves, neatly lined with rootlets, fern fibers, moss and soft bark, built on or near the ground. The entrance if often well-hidden by a substantial hood formed by extending the moss roof.

Eggs (Guide)
2; pure white; oval; about 28 x 20 mm. Incubation: about 21 - 25 days; by female.

Young
Altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 16 - 18 days.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Orthonyx temminckii (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii) and Papuan Logrunner (Orthonyx novaeguineae) following Norman et al. (2002).

Formerly considered conspecific with Papuan Logrunner (Orthonyx novaeguineae), but recent studies indicate significant genetic differences from Papuan Logrunner (Orthonyx novaeguineae), possibly even at genus level. Also differs vocally.

References
See References.

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9

Files:

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