Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush

1. Males: Rich chestnut breast band, black throat, and white belly

2. Distinctive black and white markings on folded wings

3. Pale eyebrow stripe and speckled undertail in both sexes

This species is a terrestrial omnivore, feeding on a mix of ground-dwelling insects, spiders, seeds, and occasionally fruit. Most prey items are small, requiring precise pecking to capture. They are diurnal and prefer to run rather than fly when disturbed. Breeding is closely tied to rainfall and typically occurs in the winter semester, with eggs laid after periods of heavy rain. Nests are simple bowls built in shallow scrapes under shrubs, often hidden by leaves and bark. Clutch size is usually two eggs, and both sexes share incubation duties. Multiple broods may be attempted in years with good rainfall, but breeding ceases during droughts`. 3`

Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrushes are found in semi-arid and arid regions of western Queensland and northwestern New South Wales, favouring stony ground, mulga woodlands, and open shrublands with sparse ground cover. They are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, foraging slowly along rocky rises and open ground, often in pairs or small groups.