Australian Logrunner

1. Males have a white throat bordered by black; females have an orange-rufous throat with the same border

2. Black wings with two bold white wingbars and a spiny, dark brown tail

3. Uses its tail as a brace while scratching in circular patterns on the forest floor

Logrunners are famous for their foraging method: they brace themselves with their spiny tail and use powerful sideways kicks to clear leaf litter, leaving behind circular “soup-plate” depressions. Their diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates found in the soil and debris. Pairs or small family groups defend territories year-round. Breeding can occur at various times, but most egg-laying happens from July to September in southeast Queensland. The female builds a large, domed nest on the ground, often against a log or stone, and incubates two white eggs for 2–25 days. Only the female incubates and broods the chicks, while the male helps by feeding her. Chicks are covered in black down and are well-camouflaged in the dark nest. Females also take care to remove and bury the chicks’ faecal sacs to avoid attracting predators`.`

Australian Logrunners are found from the Illawarra region in New South Wales north to the Bunya Mountains in southeast Queensland. They inhabit subtropical and temperate rainforests, especially areas with dense leaf litter, scattered logs, and thick understory. Look for them on the forest floor, particularly along walking tracks in well-vegetated rainforest reserves. They are most active and vocal in the morning, and their loud, far-carrying calls can help locate them`.`