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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Cinclosomatidae
  4. ›
  5. Cinclosoma
  6. ›
  7. Chestnut Quail-thrush
Chestnut Quail-thrush
Photo · (c) Alan Bell, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Chestnut Quail-thrush

Cinclosoma castanotumGould, 1840

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Cinclosomatidae
Genus
Cinclosoma

At a glance

The Chestnut Quail-thrush is a medium-sized bird, about 21–26 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
21–26 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Chestnut Quail-thrush look like?

The Chestnut Quail-thrush is a medium-sized bird, about 21–26 cm long and weighing 58–92 g.

The chestnut quail-thrush is a native Australian bird of the family Cinclosomatidae. These scrub birds are endemic to Australia and found in all states - barring Tasmania. They are relatively uncommon and are isolated to the semi-arid and arid fringes of the Australian interior.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
21–26 cm
Weight
58–92 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Chestnut Quail-thrush?

The Chestnut Quail-thrush 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

jimchurches · Cobar, AU-NS, AU

Call

jimchurches · Cobar, AU-NS, AU

Call

jimchurches · Cobar, AU-NS, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Chestnut Quail-thrush eat?

The Chestnut Quail-thrush feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Chestnut Quail-thrush live in Australia?

The Chestnut Quail-thrush is endemic to Australia, recorded across 33 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingEast-central SA to central NSW and north-west VIC (south-east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Non-breeding
  • Breeding

6 regions recorded