Western Quail-thrush
Cinclosoma marginatum
Heavily patterned terrestrial bird of Western Australia. Both sexes have pale eyebrow, gray-brown back, speckled undertail, and black-and-white markings on wing. Female has buff chin, white belly, and pale gray chest, male a white moustache, black throat patch, rich red-brown chest fading into the flanks, and white-edged black belt above a white belly. Usually seen walking around in stony rises with very open woodland and shrubland. Note that Cinnamon Quail-thrush has a paler eyebrow and male’s chest has white center. Calls include a long high pitched whistled "seeeep."
Identification
A species of Cinclosoma, passerine birds of Australia. It is smaller in size and slighter in build than Cinclosoma castanotum, which is found in other parts of Western Australia. Their breast and flanks are a cinnamon-rufous shade, a paler and different coloration from its counterparts. The crown and back are a solid chestnut color. The female's flanks are a duller orange shade, occasionally without the dark border. In males, the crown may be a dark grey shade. The throat and lower part of the breast are black, and the male displays a chestnut band between these. Instead, females have more of a grey center breast-band in between the black throat and lower breast. Female's coloring is duller compared to the males. Due to the less vibrant colors, there is less contrast throughout the female bird's body. The chin and throat of female western quail-thrushes have a pale buffish color. The feathers of the underparts of the tail are white with a brownish color towards the base, the black margins are most evident when the bird is in flight. There is also white coloring and spotting on the wings. The legs of both males and females vary from a grey to a grey-black shade. Young, juvenile western quail-thrushes have coloring like the females but have a more mottled appearance. Both female and male western quail-thrushes vary from 21 to 25 centimeters in size and on average weigh 65 grams.<p>Due to the rare sighting of western quail-thrushes, their classification has been a debated topic. They were constantly difficult to spot in the field. The species was previously thought to be a subspecies to the chestnut-breasted quail-thrush and the cinnamon quail-thrush, but now it has full species status.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1883, the author distinguishing this species from the quail-thrush Cinclosoma castaneothorax of eastern Australia. John Gould had previously noted the color variation of this western population and included these in an accompanying illustration.Systematic revisions in 2008 (Christidis & Boles) and the 1990s (Sibley & Monroe) recognised the taxon with subspecific status, Cinclosoma castaneothorax marginatum, and reinstated by authorities as a species in 2016 (del Hoyo and Collar).<p>The common names for this species include western quail-thrush and chestnut-breasted quail-thrush.
- Scientific name
- Cinclosoma marginatum
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1883
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cinclosomatidae
- Genus
- Cinclosoma
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Western quail-thrushes' songs contain a series of five to eleven whistles that increase in pace at the same pitch. Around the end of their song, notes may sound longer than others and are then followed by one or more short high-pitched notes.<p>Western quail-thrushes are mainly winter breeders with their breeding season ranging from January to September. Consequently, they lay their eggs around March to September. They are not endangered and are common over most of their area. Western quail-thrushes do not breed at all during the drought. Because these quail-thrushes live in areas where evaporation occurs more than precipitation, they will breed most times after it has rained. Western quail-thrushes build nests that resemble a green bowl of grass, connected with leaves and twigs. The nests have a diameter of around 15 cm across and 5 cm deep, typically placed under a shrub or tree. Two eggs, rarely three, are laid, colored in white and blotched with lavender and chestnut-brown spots. The egg is incubated by both the male and female, but the female specifically broods and feeds the baby birds. Western quail-thrushes do not migrate and will most likely stay in their habitats.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
California Gull
Larus californicus
Medium-sized gull, a bit larger than Ring-billed Gull and smaller than Herring Gull. Adults have medium-gray upperparts (slightly darker than Herring Gull), and red and black markings on the bill. Takes four years for immatures to progress from mostly brown to fully white and gray adult plumage; intermediate plumages are often mottled and messy. Many immatures show a pink bill with a contrasting black tip, and dull pinkish or greenish-gray legs. Always note dark eye. Common and fairly widespread in western North America, inland and along the coast. Can be found at parking lots, beaches, or lakes, often in flocks with Herring and Ring-billed Gulls.
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Pachycoccyx audeberti
Huge cuckoo that is black above and white below. Immature has white barring across its upperparts. Looks raptor-like in powerful, swooping flight. Uncommon bird of rainforest, gallery forest, and moist woodland, especially miombo. Call is a loud, repeated “wheet-it”, often given in a high display flight. Adult is separated from Great Spotted, Levaillant’s, and Pied cuckoos by its lack of a crest or white in the wing. Immature is similar to Great Spotted Cuckoo, but has black-and-white speckles on the head, and lacks a crest.
Cobb's Wren
Troglodytes cobbi
Endemic to the Falkland Islands, where it is found in seashore areas and offshore islets, typically in association with tussac grass. Often forages on rocky beaches, picking at food items washed up by the tide. Somewhat similar House Wren has wandered to the Falklands before, but note present species’ gray-brown head and neck, lack of a prominent eyering, and longer darker bill. Can be tame and confiding, allowing close approach. Rattling song, somewhat similar to that of House Wren, can be given from an exposed perch or deep in cover. Calls include nasal mews and harsh, dry churrs and rattles.
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