The Usambara thrush, also known as Roehl's thrush or Usambara olive thrush, is a species of thrush found in eastern Africa. Formerly, it was considered as a subspecies of the olive thrush, with which it is known to hybridize with, but is now recognised as a separate species.
Region
Eastern Arc Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in the East and West Usambara Mountains of northeastern Tanzania, mainly in evergreen and submontane montane forests. It favors mature, closed-canopy forest with dense understory, but may also use forest edges, clearings, and older secondary growth if cover is sufficient. Birds typically forage on or near the forest floor, moving along shaded ravines and mossy slopes. Habitat loss and fragmentation limit its occurrence outside protected forest blocks.
Altitude Range
800–2400 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Usambara thrush, also called Roehl's thrush or Usambara olive thrush, is restricted to Tanzania’s Usambara Mountains in the Eastern Arc range. Long treated as a subspecies of the olive thrush, it is now recognized as a distinct species and is known to hybridize with olive thrush where ranges meet. It is a shy forest bird that forages on the ground and helps disperse seeds of native montane trees.
Temperament
shy and retiring
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups after breeding. Builds a neat cup nest in a shrub or small tree, often in well-shaded sites. Breeding is tied to rainy periods, and both parents tend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Rich, mellow thrush-like phrases delivered from a concealed perch, with fluty notes and occasional whistles. Calls include soft chucks and thin seets given when alarmed within dense foliage.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a darker, slightly slate-tinged head; underparts are warm buff to orange-washed on breast with paler belly. The throat is whitish with fine dark streaking. Feathers are smooth and sleek, typical of thrushes, with subdued but contrasting face and throat markings.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and earthworms, along with a variety of berries and small fruits. It flicks leaf litter to uncover prey and also takes fallen fruits on the forest floor. Seasonal fruit abundance can shift its diet toward more frugivory, while drier periods see more invertebrate gleaning.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded forest floor, along paths, and at forest edges with dense undergrowth. Will occasionally ascend to lower branches to pluck fruit but spends much time in leaf litter and among roots and buttresses.
