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Rufous Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla rufogaster) Alternate name(s): Formerly "Little Shrike-thrush" Aboriginal name(s): Race "griseata": "gugubarbi" [ngadjon] Size: 17-19 cm Body mass: 33-49 g

Australia: Family Group 20 Family Group 20 Table Eastern Whipbird Chirruping Wedgebill Chiming Wedgebill Spotted Quail-thrush Cinnamon Quail-thrush Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush Varied Sittella Crested Bellbird Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit Northern (Crested) Shrike-tit Grey Whistler Olive Whistler Golden Whistler Western Whistler Mangrove Golden Whistler White-breasted Whistler Rufous Whistler Gilbert's Whistler Rufous Shrike-thrush Arafura Shrike-thrush (Little Shrike-thrush) Bower's Shrike-thrush Sandstone Shrike-thrush Grey Shrike-thrush Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Rufous Shrike-thrushes are among the smallest Australian shrike-thrushes. Details of their morphology depend on race. The front is mostly pale-rufous to grey, except for a whitish throat patch and some streaking on the chest. The head and back are grey-brown, with dark-grey flight feathers with rufous edge lining. The eyes have brown irises. The bill is horn-coloured, with a hint of dark-grey in the upper mandible. The legs and feet are grey. Twitcher's tip Note that the bill of the Rufous Shrike-thrush is light (horn-coloured), whereas that of the Arafura Shrike-thrush is dark.

Taxonomy, classification See Rufous Shrike-thrush at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information The subdivision of races of the Rufous Shrike-thrush (formerly called "Little Shrike-thrush") has recently been changed, with former race "parvula" having been split off and now being considered to be a race of the Arafura Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha).

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Rufous Shrike-thrush is available HERE . The range of the Little Shrike-thrush extends from southern Papua New Guinea via the Torres Strait to north-eastern Australia. After recent reclassification, there are now 3 races of Rufous Shrike-thrushes; for details see a field guide. Altogether they populate the East and North-East of Australia. Their range extends from the coastal fringe of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria, via much of Cape York peninsula and the islands along Torres Strait to southern New Guinea. They are found in dense forest along the coastline and the seaward slopes of the ranges. Race "rufogaster", which is the new nominate race of the Rufous Shrike-thrush, is the southern-most of the species, with a range extending from Port Macquarie, NSW, to about the tropic of Capricorn, in central eastern QLD. Race "griseata" is found in tropical eastern QLD, from about the tropic of Capricorn to Cape Tribulation, QLD. Along the southern coastline of the Gulf of Carpentaria, across much of Cape York peninsula, and on to the islands of the Torres Strait, the newly defined race "goodsoni" is found. Rufous Shrike-thrushes can be found in various types of coastal woodland, from open woodland to mangroves and the understorey of rainforest.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "rufogaster" M. Eaton reports spotting Rufous Shrike-thrushes, race "rufogaster", semi-regularly in various locations in near-coastal south-eastern QLD. In November 2023, a pair was found building a nest at Pullenvale, QLD. E. Scott reports finding a Rufous Shrike-thrush, race "rufogaster", semi-regularly in Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW. Race "griseata" B. Hensen reports spotting Rufous Shrike-thrushes, race "griseata", at Julatten, QLD, in July 2013. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found Rufous Shrike-thrushes, race "griseata", at Kingfisher Park, Julatten, in December 2019 and again in September 2023. Others were found at Yungaburra, QLD, in June 2022, November 2022 and October 2023. M. Eaton reports spotting a Rufous Shrike-thrush, race "griseata", at Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, in September 2020. Others were found at Atherton, QLD, in June 2024. M. Eaton reports finding a Rufous Shrike-thrush, race "griseata", at Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, in July 2021. Race "goodsoni" M. Eaton reports spotting Rufous Shrike-thrushes, race "goodsoni", in various locations on Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019.

Photos

Race "rufogaster"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, March 2017]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, November 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, March 2017]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush
[Byfield NP, QLD, July 2009]

Near-lateral view a Rufous Shrike-thrush, head down
[Byfield NP, QLD, July 2009]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, July 2017]

Ventral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush
[Byfield NP, QLD, July 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2017]

Dorsal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2017]

Ventral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush hanging off a piece of bark (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Inskip Point, QLD, December 2017]

Frontal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush, here seen preening (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Inskip Point, QLD, December 2017]

Race "griseata"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, June 2022]

Close-up frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Crater Lakes, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, July 2023]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atherton, QLD, June 2024]

Lateral/ventral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atherton, QLD, June 2024]

Lateral/ventral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atherton, QLD, June 2024]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral view of an immature Rufous Shrike-thrush; note the rufous juvenile wing feathers
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Curtin Fig Tree, Yungaburra, QLD, October 2023]

Dorsal view of an immature Rufous Shrike-thrush; note the rufous juvenile wing feathers
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up near-frontal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, December 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush taking on big prey (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, December 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush dissecting its prey (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, December 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2013]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, September 2020]

Race "goodsoni"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Iron Range NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Chili Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gunshot Creek, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Feb

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 16 - 17 days

Fledging age: ?

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs, bark strips, leaves, cobwebs

Height above ground: 0.5 - 10 m

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush moving in to sit on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, June 2024]

Dorsal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, June 2024]

Overview of the location of a Rufous Shrike-thrush nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, November 2023]

Close-up view of a(n as yet unused) Rufous Shrike-thrush nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush carrying a leaf as nest material (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush carrying a feather for lining its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, November 2023]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 25 x 19 mm

Colour: Light-grey, with dark-brown/dark-grey speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Clutch of 2 Rufous Shrike-thrush eggs (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, June 2024]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary

Food, Diet

Frontal view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush with its prey, a small insect
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Julatten, QLD, September 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of a Rufous Shrike-thrush with a moth (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, November 2022]

Rufous Shrike-thrush with a caterpillar (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush with its prey, a hairy caterpillar (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush with its prey, a hairy caterpillar (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Rufous Shrike-thrush with its prey, a hairy caterpillar (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

ltshrth_me_20231103_2.m4a	rufogaster (SE QLD)	Contact calls(?)	© ME
ltshrth_me_20231102.m4a	rufogaster (SE QLD)	Territorial call	© ME
ltshrth_me_20231105.m4a	rufogaster (SE QLD)	Territorial call	© ME
ltshrth_me_20231103.m4a	rufogaster (SE QLD)	Territorial calls	© ME
ltshrth_me_20231102_2.m4a	rufogaster (SE QLD)	?	© ME
ltshrth_me_20200927.m4a	griseata (N QLD)	?	© ME
ltshrth_me_20240613.m4a	goodsoni (Far-N QLD)	Territorial call?	© ME
ltshrth_me_20240616.m4a	goodsoni (Far-N QLD)	Territorial calls?	© ME
ltshrth_me_20240613_2.m4a	goodsoni (Far-N QLD)	?	© ME

More Rufous Shrike-thrush sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.