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Grey Shrike-thrush

(Colluricincla harmonica)
Alternative names: "Harmonious Thrush", "Native Thrush", "Pluff", "Mourner", "Whistling Dick"
Aboriginal name: "dharruwii" [yuwaalaraay]
Size: 22-25 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

There are in total five races of Grey Shrike-thrushes in Australia - for details see a field guide. Altogether they are found almost all over the Australian continent and Tasmania and most offshore islands, with only the following exceptions on the Australian mainland: There are no Grey Shrike-thrushes in the Nullarbor, the Gibson Desert, parts of the Strezlecki and Simpson Deserts, the central NT and the western base of Cape York peninsula, including the catchment of the Flinders River, QLD.

Grey Shrike-thrushes can be found in a variety as habitats, from forest to open woodland, but also mallee and low scrub. They adapt very well to the presence of humans and can be found in urban parks and gardens as well. They also tend to hang around e.g. camping sites and barbeque areas to scavenge food.

Sightings

A common bird, easily noticed because of its superb singing skills, but often hard to observe out in the bush, because normally shy. However, when used to the presence of humans, can become very approachable, even tame when fed. We have seen Grey Shrikethrushes occasionally at Sawn Rocks, Mount Kaputar National Park, NSW, first in August 2005, but also along Bohena Creek, 20 km south of Narrabri.

Seen only rarely 20 km east of Narrabri, in quite open farmland with paddocks and interspersed remnant bushland, but common just 10 km further east, on the western fringes of Mt. Kaputar National Park.

Also common in the area of Maules Creek, Barraba, Manilla and the Upper Namoi River valley at Warrabah National Park, NSW.

Seen also at a bush property 20 km north of Coonabarabran, at the southern end of the Pilliga scrub, in September 2006.

We spotted Grey Shrikethrushes in many places on a trip along the Darling River to the Flinders and Gammon Ranges, South Australia, in March 2008.

Also seen by us on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range, in the area from Dorrigo to Urunga, NSW.

Photos

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Straight-on frontal view of a Grey Shrike-thrush

Portrait of a Grey Shrike-thrush

Near-frontal view of a Grey Shrike-thrush checking who is crawling through the underbrush

Lateral view of a tame Grey Shrike-thrush

Grey Shrike-thrush in our former garden

"Rotor-head" Grey Shrike-thrush

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Mar Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 16 - 18 days Fledging age: 14 - 17 days

Given the right conditions, Grey Shrike-thrushes can breed any time of the year.

Nest

Type: Bowl Material: Broad leaves or bark strips with grass lining Height above ground: N/A

Grey Shrike-thrush collecting thin strips of bark as nesting material; this particular specimen is not shy at all - it is preparing a nest in a hanging flowerpot under the awning of a building

Grey Shrike-thrush carrying nesting material

The nest shown here was still under construction by the bird in the photo above and its partner; since they were still carrying mostly bark for the outer walls, it is possible that finer material for lining the inside was still to follow.

Grey Shrike-thrush nest on the ground, hidden in dense growth under a wattle tree

Eggs

Size: 29 x 21 mm Colour: Creamy, with brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Grey Shrike-thrushes are one of the bird species that will try to fight off a potential competitor when confronted with their mirror image.

Grey Shrike-thrush trying to impress the bird in the mirror...

Food

Grey Shrike-thrushes are known for their varied diet. They feed on insects and other animals, including chicks of smaller birds, lizards, mice, frogs and spiders. They are also known to take fruit and seeds.