Australian Logrunner
Orthonyx temminckii
The Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii) is a uncommon logrunner and chowchilla found in 2 countries, weighing about 58 g. The Australian logrunner is a species of bird that is endemic to eastern Australia where it uses unique foraging techniques and adaptations to search for its food on the floors of temperate, subtropical, or tropical moist lowland forests in south-eastern Australia.
About the Australian Logrunner
The Australian logrunner is a species of bird that is endemic to eastern Australia where it uses unique foraging techniques and adaptations to search for its food on the floors of temperate, subtropical, or tropical moist lowland forests in south-eastern Australia. Until 2002, it was widely considered to be conspecific with the New Guinea logrunner, but studies showed the two differ significantly, both genetically and vocally.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Logrunners as a group are characterised by their distinctive tail feathers where the rachis (or central shafts) of the tail feathers protrude and are stiffened. The broad tail of the bird is less than four inches (10 cm) in length and the strong protruding rachis at the ends of the tail feathers are almost void of the usual barbs, giving the feather the appearance of spines. This appearance gives rise to some of the common names for the bird such as spine-tail or spine-tailed logrunner. There appears to be some debate about the number of tail feathers possessed by the Australian logrunner.
What the Australian Logrunner sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Papua New Guinea.
When to see it
The Australian Logrunner can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Australian Logrunner?
- Logrunners as a group are characterised by their distinctive tail feathers where the rachis (or central shafts) of the tail feathers protrude and are stiffened. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Australian Logrunner?
- The Australian Logrunner is a small sized bird weighing about 58 g.
- Where can you see an Australian Logrunner?
- The Australian Logrunner occurs in 2 countries, including Australia.
- What does an Australian Logrunner sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Australian Logrunner on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Australian Logrunner?
- The Australian Logrunner is most easily confused with the Chowchilla and the Papuan Logrunner.
- Is the Australian Logrunner endangered?
- The Australian Logrunner is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Australian Logrunner for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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