The spotted ground thrush is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, and possibly Mozambique.
Region
Eastern and Southern Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs in disjunct populations from coastal Kenya and Tanzania through parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Malawi to eastern South Africa. It favors mature, evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, including coastal scarp, riverine, and submontane forests. Birds forage on the shaded forest floor with dense leaf-litter and tangled understory. In South Africa, some birds move seasonally to coastal forests in winter, while elsewhere they may be more sedentary. The species avoids heavily degraded habitats and relies on large, contiguous forest patches.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Spotted Ground Thrush is a secretive forest thrush that relies on intact leaf-litter for foraging, making it highly sensitive to habitat loss and forest fragmentation. South African birds undertake seasonal movements between inland and coastal scarp forests, while some East African populations are more resident. It is currently listed as Endangered due to ongoing declines and a patchy, shrinking distribution. Its bold black spotting on white underparts is a key field mark when it briefly hops into view along shaded paths.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between cover
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping close to dense understory near the forest floor. Nests are neat cups placed on low branches or saplings, typically well concealed. The species is presumed monogamous with both sexes involved in parental care. Breeding timing varies locally with rainfall and season.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A clear, fluty, somewhat melancholy series of whistles delivered from a hidden perch, often at dawn and dusk. Calls include soft chips and thin seep notes given when alarmed or moving through dense cover.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with buff-edged wing coverts forming faint wingbars; clean white underparts heavily marked with bold black spots and crescents.
Diet
Forages by hopping and flicking leaf-litter to uncover beetles, ants, caterpillars, snails, and earthworms. Also takes small fruits and berries, especially when invertebrates are scarce. Occasionally gleans from low vegetation but primarily feeds on the ground. Diet composition shifts seasonally with prey availability and fruiting cycles.
Preferred Environment
Dense, shaded forest floor with deep leaf-litter and tangled understory, often near streams or in gullies. Uses quiet trails and edges within intact forest rather than open or heavily disturbed areas.
