rufous scrub-bird

The rufous scrub-bird (Atrichornis rufescens) is one of two rare Australian bird species belonging to the family Atrichornithidae. These birds are brown, with a long, pointed tail, and are related to lyrebirds. The rufous scrub-bird, measuring about 18 cm (7 inches), was discovered in the 1860s in wet forests of New South Wales and is now also found in Queensland, where it is protected in Lamington National Park.1

Scrub-birds rarely fly, preferring to move quickly on foot. This near-flightlessness is reflected in their anatomy, as they are the only passerines lacking a wishbone due to poorly developed clavicles. They possess a remarkable voice, described as painfully loud, highly varied, and ventriloquial. Their nests are built on the ground and are bulky, domed structures lined with wood pulp that dries to a cardboard-like consistency.1