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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Pachycephalidae
  4. ›
  5. Colluricincla
  6. ›
  7. Arafura Shrikethrush
Arafura Shrikethrush
Photo · (c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Arafura Shrikethrush

Colluricincla megarhyncha(Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Pachycephalidae
Genus
Colluricincla

At a glance

The Arafura Shrikethrush is a small bird, about 18–21 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
18–21 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Arafura Shrikethrush look like?

The Arafura Shrikethrush is a small bird, about 18–21 cm long and weighing 29–62 g.

The little shrikethrush or little shrike-thrush is a species of passerine bird in the family Pachycephalidae that is found in New Guinea as well as in north and east Australia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
18–21 cm
Weight
28.5–62 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Arafura Shrikethrush?

The Arafura Shrikethrush is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Caleb Catto · Tannum Sands, QLD, AU

Call

Caleb Catto · Tannum Sands, QLD, AU

Call

Greg Tasney · Wolvi QLD 4570, Australia

Call

Scott W. Gavins · Talegalla Weir QLD 4650, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Arafura Shrikethrush eat?

The Arafura Shrikethrush feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Arafura Shrikethrush live in Australia?

The Arafura Shrikethrush is native to Australia, recorded across 29 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNew Guinea and north-central Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Passage

7 regions recorded