Arafura Shrikethrush

About the Arafura Shrikethrush

The little shrikethrush or little shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha) is a species of passerine bird in the family Pachycephalidae that is found in New Guinea as well as in north and east Australia. The little shrikethrush was formally described and illustrated in 1832 as Muscicapa megarhyncha by the French naturalists Jean Quoy and Joseph Gaimard based on a specimen collected near Manokwari in the Bird's Head Peninsula of New Guinea. The specific epithet combines the Ancient Greek μεγα/mega meaning "much" with ῥυγχος/rhunkhos meaning "bill". The little shrikethrush is now placed in the genus Colluricincla that was introduced in 1827 by the naturalists Nicholas Vigors and Thomas Horsfield.

Molecular genetic studies of New Guinea populations of the little shrikethrush indicate high levels of genetic divergence, suggesting it may comprise more than one species. With at least eight separate clades identified as potential species splits, further research may lead to the re-classification of several new species. Alternate names for the little shrikethrush include the brown shrike-flycatcher and rufous shrike-thrush.

Sixteen subspecies are recognised: C. m. megarhyncha... Wikipedia →