brown songlark Cincloramphus cruralis

Large brown songbird with long tail and long, strong legs. Males grayish with brown-edged feathers above, and very dark gray belly, breast, and face in breeding plumage. Female smaller, similar to nonbreeding male. Distinctive display flight: male climbs high in the air, then parachutes down with wings held up at an angle and with legs dangling. Found across much of Australia, less common in the southeast in drier agricultural and open grassland areas. Perches on fence posts. Distinctive song a scratchy five-note phrase.