The Makira thrush, also known as the San Cristobal thrush, is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Solomon Islands
Typical Environment
Restricted to primary and mature secondary moist lowland forests on Makira. It frequents shaded understory with deep leaf litter, fallen logs, and dense sapling thickets. The species avoids heavily degraded areas and is rarely seen near forest edges or gardens. It uses small streams and gullies for foraging and cover and retreats deeper into forest when disturbed.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the San Cristobal thrush, it is confined to Makira (San Cristóbal) in the Solomon Islands. It is a shy, ground-oriented forest thrush that forages through leaf litter for invertebrates and fallen fruit. Logging and forest conversion are the main threats, and it is sensitive to habitat disturbance. Its presence is a good indicator of intact lowland rainforest.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats close to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, keeping to dense understory. Breeding is presumed monogamous with a cup nest placed low in shrubs or small trees. Pairs defend small territories during the breeding season and become more dispersed outside it.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, fluted series of whistles and clear notes delivered from concealed perches. Calls include thin, high contact notes and short alarm chips when flushed.
Plumage
Upperparts brown to olive-brown; underparts pale with bold dark scalloping or spotting on the breast and flanks. Throat slightly paler with fine streaking; wings and tail darker brown with subtle edging. Feathers appear soft and well-camouflaged for forest-floor living.
Diet
Feeds on beetles, ants, spiders, worms, and other leaf-litter invertebrates. Also takes small snails and occasionally soft fruits and berries that fall to the forest floor. Probes and flicks aside leaves to expose prey, often pausing to listen before striking.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded forest floor, along gullies and near small streams within intact lowland rainforest. Uses fallen logs and dense understory as cover while feeding.
