The orange-sided thrush or orange-banded thrush is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is found on Timor island and the southern Maluku Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Lesser Sunda Islands and southern Maluku, Wallacea
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and foothill forests on Timor and in parts of the southern Moluccas. It favors subtropical or tropical dry forest and moist lowland evergreen or semi-evergreen forest. The species often uses dense understory, bamboo thickets, and forest edges, but generally avoids heavily degraded habitats. It forages mainly on the forest floor, retreating into cover when disturbed. Patchy local occurrence is linked to remaining intact forest tracts.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as the orange-banded thrush, this shy forest thrush forages quietly on the ground among leaf litter. It is restricted to Timor and parts of the southern Maluku Islands and is vulnerable to ongoing deforestation. Formerly placed in Zoothera, it is now commonly treated in the genus Geokichla. Its bold orange side panels are distinctive in the dim forest understory.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low darting flights through understory
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in shrubs or small trees, constructed from rootlets, leaves, and moss. Clutches are small, and adults are highly secretive around the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, melodious series of clear whistles delivered from concealed perches at dawn and dusk. Contact calls are thin, high tsip notes given intermittently while foraging.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with paler underparts and a contrasting, rich orange band along the sides of the breast and flanks; throat pale with fine dark streaking; belly whitish. Wings and tail darker brown with subtle edging.
Diet
Feeds on ground-dwelling invertebrates such as beetles, ants, spiders, and worms by flipping leaf litter. Also consumes small fruits and berries when available, especially in the wet season. May occasionally take snails or other soft-bodied prey.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded forest floor in dense understory and along quiet trails or stream margins. Often uses areas with deep leaf litter and scattered saplings that provide quick cover.
