Cinnamon Quail-thrush

The Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum) are a medium size diurnal bird that live most of the their lives on the ground. They are found in gibber country, in the arid and semi-arid region of central Australia, where their colouration blend well against their surroundings.

Both sexes have the pale eyebrow, pale cinnamon-rufous upper, black and white markings on the wing, buff white patches on the upper breast and a broad black band below. The outer tail feathers are black with white tips and speckled undertail. The female features are slightly duller, with a buff white throat, greyish upper breast and no black on the underside.

Breeding pairs are known to maintain a localised territory.

During the breeding season, which is normally between July-August, the males sing continuously at daybreak. The female builds a cup shaped nest in a depression, usually in rocky areas, under low shrubs or amidst sparse tufts of grass. The nest is lined with fine grass, strips of bark and sticks and the female lays between two to three eggs. Whilst the female incubates and broods the young, the male assists with the feeding.

A shy and elusive species, they forage on the ground feeding on insects, spiders and seeds.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cinclosomatidae
Genus: Cinclosoma
Species: C. cinnamomeum
Binomial name: Cinclosoma cinnamomeum