Arafura Shrikethrush

1. Chunky build with a thick, heavy bill.

2. Variable plumage but always some breast streaking.

3. Rich, melodious song of whistles and trills.

The Arafura Shrikethrush is an opportunistic feeder, consuming insects, spiders, snails, small crabs, and occasionally fruit and seeds. It forages by gleaning prey from foliage, bark, and sometimes the ground. Breeding occurs from August to February; nests are untidy cups placed in upright forks below 2 meters from the ground. Females typically lay two eggs, and both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties. The species is non-migratory, holding territories year-round and is known for its longevity, with some individuals living over 16 years.

This species inhabits northern Australiaespecially northeastern Western Australia and the Northern Territoryextending into southern New Guinea. It prefers subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, monsoon forests, gallery forests along watercourses, mangroves, and dense coastal woodlands. Most often, it forages in the lower and middle levels of the forest, between 1–5 meters above ground.