Quail Thrushes and Whipbirds: Eupetidae

Quail thrushes range in length from 6.7 to 12.2 inches (17 to 31 centimeters), and weigh 1 to 7 ounces (30 to 205 grams). The majority of the species have strong legs with long ankle bones. The bill tends to be short, and their tails are mostly long and wide. Their feathers are thick and fluffy. Quail thrushes are striking with patterns of black, white, brown, and orange—a color normally found only on the undersides. The top parts of the birds look like the ground cover.

Three or four of the jewel-babblers are similar in appearance to quail thrushes, only with large patches of blue in the plumage, feathers. Rail-babblers—often considered a part of this inclusive group although their true ancestry continues to remain questionable—have long necks and tails, and plumage that is chestnut-colored, with a blue streak running along the side of their neck. The species of Australian whipbirds and wedgebills are slim, dull in their color, and have long tails. Their crest is short but is pointed. The Papuan whipbird looks somewhat like a smaller version of those birds, but only superficially. This bird has no crest. Melampittas have long legs, noticeably short tails, and black plumage. The small bird, ifrit, has a medium-short tail and rusty brown plumage and a bright blue cap.