Australian Logrunner (male)

Description:

Also known as the Spinetailed Logrunner.Small, stocky bird,short & strong beak. Ground-dweller.Short wings are rounded. Short, broad tail has visible spines at the end. Adult males - grey face & sides, white underneath, olive-rufous above, grey barred wings. Adult females similar, but but with orange-rufous throat. Immature birds are similar, underparts are mottled white. Legs & feet small but strong for digging among heavy leaf litter. Will tolerate human observers but will walk away if disturbed, occasionally flying short distances with wings making a whirring sound.

Habitat:

Found throughout tropical, sub-tropical & wet eucalypt forests areas of eastern NSW and Queensland, southern range less common, prefers dense canopy cover and lots of leaf litter.

Notes:

The habitat and population numbers of Logrunners has been severely affected by land clearance and feral/domestic predators. Numbers in the 'wilderness' area where this one was photographed have become very noticeably less over the past few decades as with many other species in the region.