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Morning Birdwatch in the Mallee ForestWhile on a breakfast break in the Mallee forest near Lake Gilles, guide Steve Potter heard a repetitive whistling that led the party to pause their coffee and cornflakes in search of its source.Spotting the Copperback Quail-ThrushThe call guided the group to a large, plump bird walking purposefully beneath a bush: a copperback quail-thrush (Cinclosoma clarum). Its snow‑white eyebrow, moustache and belly contrast sharply with a black throat and a radiant copper‑coloured back, giving the species its English name.Endemic to South and Western AustraliaTerrestrial songbird, rarely fliesRecently split from the chestnut quail‑thrushScientific name means “luminous tail‑wagging thrush”Ecological Significance of the Copperback Quail-ThrushUnlike many songbirds, quail‑thrushes spend most of their time on the forest floor, making them key indicators of ground‑level habitat health. Their presence signals intact understory vegetation and a balanced invertebrate community, both crucial for the broader Mallee ecosystem.Conservation Outlook for Terrestrial SongbirdsContinued protection of Mallee habitats around Lake Gilles is essential to preserve the copperback quail‑thrush and related species. Ongoing monitoring and community‑led birdwatching tours can raise awareness, supporting conservation measures that safeguard these ground‑dwelling birds for future generations.