Genus: Orthonyx
Description
Logrunners are found in Australia and New Guinea.
The three species are stocky birds, all similar build. They share
- Powerful legs with well-developed claws
- A short unspecialized bill of moderate strength
- Rounded wings with ten primaries, P6 the longest, followed by subequal P7 and P5
- Stiffened shafts of the ten tail feathers, the tips portruding beyond the ends of the feathers as spines
- Sexual dimorphism
Taxonomy
Orthonyx is the only genus in the family Orthonychidae.
It's taxonomic placement was longtime problematic, but recent DNA studies established it in its own family, belonging to the Australo-Papuan passeriform radiation, the parvorder "Corvida".
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| O. novaeguineae | Papuan Logrunner | ||
| O. temminckii | Australian Logrunner | ||
| O. spaldingii | Chowchilla | ||
References
- 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
- Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Orthonyx. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Orthonyx
Pages in category ‘Orthonyx’
The following 3 pages are in this category, out of 3 total.
