The rufous scrubbird is a bird species in the family Atrichornithidae. It is endemic to Australia.
Region
Eastern Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs in small, fragmented populations in montane and upland rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests along the Great Dividing Range. It favors dense, moist understory with deep leaf litter, tree ferns, and vine tangles, often near gullies and along mossy logs. Core areas include the Border Ranges, Lamington–Springbrook Plateau, New England National Park, and the Barrington/Gloucester Tops. The species is highly patchy, with territories tightly linked to microhabitats that stay damp year-round.
Altitude Range
300–1500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The rufous scrubbird is one of only two species in the family Atrichornithidae and is renowned for its extraordinarily loud, ventriloquial song. It is extremely secretive, spending most of its time on or near the ground in dense, wet forest understory. Because it relies on intact, damp leaf-litter habitats, it is sensitive to fire and habitat fragmentation. Its presence is often used as an indicator of high-quality upland rainforest.
Nest photographed by S. W. Jackson, 1910
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
reluctant flier; short rapid bursts low through vegetation
Social Behavior
Generally solitary or in pairs within well-defended territories. Nests are placed close to the ground in dense cover, often domed or well-sheltered by vegetation. Courtship centers on the male’s powerful song delivered from concealed song posts.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A remarkably loud, ringing series of clear, metallic notes delivered in repeated phrases, often ventriloquial and hard to locate. Males sing persistently at dawn and after rain, with phrases carrying far through the forest.
