Gray Shrikethrush

1. Strong, slightly hooked bill (black in males, grey in females).

2. White lores in males, greyish lores in females.

3. Mostly grey plumage with olive-brown back and pale throat.

These birds are opportunistic feeders, consuming insects, spiders, small reptiles, frogs, lizards, small mammals, eggs, nestlings, fruit, seeds, and occasionally carrion. They forage at all levels, methodically searching tree trunks, branches, and ground debris, and have been documented using sticks to probe for insects, one of the few Australian birds to use tools. Breeding occurs from July to March, with females typically laying three eggs in a cup-shaped nest made of bark, rootlets, and leaves, often placed in tree hollows, crevices, or even human structures. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties, with the female incubating at night and both parents active during the day. The incubation period averages about 17 days, and the nestling period about 16 days. Pairs often remain together for life and may raise multiple broods in a season.

Grey Shrikethrushes are found across nearly all of Australia except the most arid regions, and also occur in coastal New Guinea. They inhabit a broad range of environments, including eucalypt and acacia woodlands, rainforest edges, riparian corridors, coastal heathlands, urban parks, gardens, and even farm shelterbelts. They are highly adaptable and can be seen foraging from the ground to the treetops, often in pairs that maintain year-round territories