Sandstone Shrikethrush

1. Long tail and bill, noticeably longer than the Grey Shrikethrush.

2. Warm peach-buff to pale brown underparts contrasting with grayish head and breast.

3. Strict preference for rocky sandstone escarpments and gorges, never found in forest habitats.

These birds feed mainly on insects and spiders, occasionally taking small vertebrates such as lizards. They forage on the ground, among spinifex clumps, and in crevices or under boulders. Breeding occurs from August to January, with nests built from spinifex, twigs, and rootlets placed on or under rock ledges or in cavities 2–11 meters above the base of cliffs. Females lay 2–3 white eggs marked with brown and dark gray spots concentrated at the larger end. Their specialized habitat and limited range make them vulnerable to threats like inappropriate fire regimes that affect spinifex grasslands.

Sandstone Shrikethrushes are found exclusively in northern Australia’s sandstone country, including the eastern Kimberley, the Northern Territory’s escarpments, and far northwestern Queensland. They inhabit rocky cliffs, gorges, and hills with scattered trees, low shrubs, and spinifex grass. These birds rarely enter forested areas, preferring the open, rugged terrain of sandstone formations. They are most vocal at dawn and early morning, often singing from exposed sandstone towers or rocky outcrops. Binoculars are useful for spotting them perched conspicuously atop rocks.