Luzon island thrush

Luzon island thrush is a species of passerine in the family Turdidae. It is endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It was formerly considered to be two separate subspecies of Island thrush until 2024 when it was classified as a distinct species by the IOC and Clements checklist.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Northern Philippines

Typical Environment

Occurs in montane and mossy forests on Luzon, favoring mature, humid broadleaf forest with dense leaf litter. It uses forest edges, clearings, and selectively logged areas if sufficient understory remains. Birds often keep close to slopes, ravines, and stream gullies where cover is thick. It is primarily resident in high elevations, with only short local movements in response to food availability.

Altitude Range

900–2900 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size20–23 cm

Wing Span34–40 cm

Male Weight0.085 kg

Female Weight0.08 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Luzon island thrush is a recently recognized species in the Turdidae, restricted to highland forests of Luzon in the Philippines. It forages quietly on the forest floor and lower understory, often remaining inconspicuous in dense cover. Like many island thrushes, it shows subtle but distinctive plumage and vocal differences tied to its isolated montane habitats.

Gallery

Male of the nominate subspecies T. t. thomassoni on Mount Polis

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and skulking

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats between perches

Social Behavior

Usually solitary or in pairs, maintaining territories in dense upland forest. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in shrubs or small trees, with both parents attending the young. Foraging is mostly on or near the ground by hopping and flipping leaf litter.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A soft, fluted series of whistles interspersed with thin tseep notes. The song carries in calm forest conditions but is not especially loud, and call notes are short and high-pitched.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Luzon scops owl

The Luzon scops owl or the Luzon highland scops owl is a species of scops owl endemic to Luzon, Philippines. Not to be confused with the Philippine scops owl, sometimes referred to as the Luzon lowland scops owl, which is a more common species that shares the same range. The Luzon scops owl, however, is smaller and inhabits higher altitudes than its lowland relative.

Luzon striped babbler

The Luzon striped babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is one of the four striped babblers along with the Negros striped babbler, Panay striped babbler and Palawan striped babbler. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is only found in northern Luzon and in Bataan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Luzon water redstart

The Luzon water redstart, also known as the Luzon redstart, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found primarily on Luzon with no records in Mindoro since 1965. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest, tropical moist montane forest, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Lyall's wren

Lyall's wren or the Stephens Island wren is an extinct species of small, flightless passerine bird belonging to the family Acanthisittidae, the New Zealand wrens. It was once found throughout New Zealand, but by the time of its discovery by scientists in 1894, it could only be found on Stephens Island in Cook Strait. Often claimed to be a species driven extinct by only a single individual animal, it was actually predated upon by the numerous feral cats found throughout the island. The wren was described almost simultaneously by both Walter Rothschild and Walter Buller. It became extinct shortly thereafter.