Vocalisations and related behaviour of Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum in Far North Queensland

Abstract

In 2008, sightings of quail-thrush were reported in Far North Queensland. The general consensus is that this is Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum. Yet to date the ecology of the northern population of this species has remained almost undocumented in the literature. Here, I present vocalisations and describe related behaviour of the Spotted Quail-thrush from this northern population. I distinguished 18 discrete vocalisations and five combinations thereof, comprising two discrete types of song, four contact calls, three agitation calls, four alarm calls, two courtship vocalisations, and three adult–young feeding vocalisations. All adult vocalisations were produced by both the male and the female. A brief comparison of these vocalisations with audio recordings and descriptions of vocalisations from southern populations suggests that there is little difference between the vocal repertoire of this northern population and that of the Spotted Quail-thrush elsewhere.