White's thrush

White's thrush is a member of the thrush family, Turdidae. It was named after the English naturalist Gilbert White. The genus name Zoothera comes from the Ancient Greek zoon, "animal" and theras, "hunter". The specific aurea is from Latin aureus, "golden".

Distribution

Region

Northeast and East Asia

Typical Environment

Breeds in boreal and temperate mixed forests of the Russian Far East and northeastern China, extending through the Korean Peninsula. In the non-breeding season it moves south to southern China, Taiwan, and parts of Southeast Asia. It favors mature, damp woodlands with deep leaf litter and dense understory for cover. Occasional vagrants reach western Europe, often on islands and coastal headlands. In winter it may also use larger parks and well-wooded gardens near forests.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size27–31 cm

Wing Span40–47 cm

Male Weight0.15 kg

Female Weight0.14 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

White's thrush is a large, beautifully patterned thrush named after the English naturalist Gilbert White. It was long treated as part of the scaly thrush complex, but most authorities now recognize it as a distinct species. A shy forest bird, it forages by flicking aside leaf litter to uncover invertebrates. It is a scarce but regular vagrant to western Europe, especially after strong easterly winds in autumn.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and secretive

Flight Pattern

strong flier with low, direct flights after being flushed

Social Behavior

Mostly solitary or in pairs during the breeding season. Nests are cup-shaped and placed on branches or in tree forks; the female typically builds and incubates while both parents feed the young. Clutches are small to moderate, and the species is highly cryptic around the nest.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

A clear, fluting series of mellow, far-carrying whistles delivered with long pauses, often at dawn and dusk. Calls include thin seep and soft tchik notes, with sharper alarm calls when flushed.

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Identification

Leg Colorpinkish-flesh

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Heavily scaled appearance with bold black crescents over golden-buff to brown ground color; wings and back show strong scalloping and spotting.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Primarily takes invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, and snails gleaned from the forest floor. Will also consume berries and soft fruits, especially outside the breeding season. Foraging involves methodically flicking and turning leaf litter to expose prey.

Preferred Environment

Feeds on the ground in damp, mature forests with thick leaf litter and dense cover. In winter it can also forage along forest edges, clearings, and occasionally in large wooded parks.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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Whitehead's spiderhunter

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Whitehead's trogon

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