Photo: Rick elis.simpson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chowchilla
Orthonyx spaldingii
Chowchilla (Orthonyx spaldingii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chowchilla (Orthonyx spaldingii) is a member of the Orthonychidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 150 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Orthonychidae Logrunners
- Genus Orthonyx
- Species spaldingii
Where it lives
East-central, southeastern Cape York Pen., northeastern QLD (northeastern Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 150 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Orthonychidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chowchilla is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Chowchilla is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chowchilla (Orthonyx spaldingii) is a species of bird in the Orthonychidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU ec, se Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 150 g, with a wing length of about 12.2 cm and a tail of around 10.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 23,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chowchilla?
The Chowchilla is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 150 g.
Where does the Chowchilla live?
The Chowchilla is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU ec, se Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Chowchilla belong to?
The Chowchilla (Orthonyx spaldingii) belongs to the Orthonychidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chowchilla eat?
The Chowchilla is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Chowchilla migrate?
The Chowchilla is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chowchilla endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Chowchilla make?
1 real field recording of the Chowchilla — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chowchilla's range?
The Chowchilla has a mapped global range of about 23,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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