Quail Thrushes and Whipbirds: Eupetidae

Australian quail thrushes, with the exception of the spotted quail thrush, prefer arid habitats, particularly dry woodland areas, stony plains, sandhills and shrub steppe, a plain with few trees. The rail-babbler and the species of New Guinea live in the rainforest and in many different types of closed forest-type areas. The greater melampitta can be found only in the forest of karst, environments that are characterized by heavy limestone deposits with deep ground fissures, cracks, and sinkholes, and often sitting over underground streams and caves. The eastern whipbird is also found in the rainforest, eucalyptus forests that are wet, and other areas with a low density of vegetation. The western whipbird is found in areas with dense vegetation that is thick and dry. Wedgebills are at home in dry woodlands, steppes, a semi-arid grass covered plain, and heathlands.