From Opus

Alternative names: Ajax Quail-thrush; Ajax Scrub-robin; False Quail-thrush

Cinclosoma ajax

[edit] Identification

23cm.
Male:

• Rusty brown upperparts
• Black upperwing-coverts
• Black side of head from lores to neck
• Broad white patch from base of lower mandible to below ear-coverts to side of hindneck
• Black chin, throat and upper breast
• Rufous-brown breast side and flanks
• White centre of lower breast and belly, separated from flanks by broken black stripes
• Pale orange iris

Female:

• Smaller than male
• Crown and upperparts olive brown
• Primary coverts black with white tips
• Dark brown side of head with long whitish supercilium
• White chin and throat
• Rich rufous-brown upper breast and flanks
• Off-white centre of lower breast and belly
• Rufous-brown iris

Juveniles are like females but with paler iris

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to New Guinea.
Locally not uncommon restricted-range species.

[edit] Taxonomy

Four subspecies recognized:

• C. a. ajax in west New Guinea
• C. a. muscale in east-central New Guinea
• C. a. alare in south New Guinea
• C. a. goldiei in southeast New Guinea

[edit] Habitat

Rainforest, monsoon forest and adjoining tall secondary growth. Found from sea-level up to ca. 800m.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects.
Highly terrestrial. Walks on the ground, pauses to throw leaves aside and walks on. Difficult to see but reveals its presence by voice.
No information about breeding.
Probably a resident species.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422

• List of references

[edit] External Links