Scaly thrush


The scaly thrush is a member of the thrush family Turdidae.

Distribution and habitat

It breeds in wet coniferous taiga, mainly in the Himalayas through Malaysia.

Description

The sexes are similar, 27–31 cm long, with black scaling on a paler white or yellowish background. The most striking identification feature in flight is the black band on the white underwings, a feature shared with Siberian thrush. The male has a song which is a loud, far-carrying mechanical whistle, with 5-10 second pauses between each one second long phrase twee...tuuu....tuuu....tuuu.

Taxonomy

There are several races which are now often split into a varying number of separate species. Z. aurea, including the questionable subspecies Z. a. toratugumi, is the migratory Siberian and north-east Asian form. Z. neilgherriensis is resident in the hills of southwest India. Z. imbricata is endemic to the hills of Sri Lanka and is particularly distinctive, being smaller, long-billed and rufous below. Z. d. dauma breeds in the Himalaya and migrates to the foothills in winter. Z. d. horsfieldi is resident in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. Z. major is restricted to the Amami Islands in Japan and is now considered a distinct species.
The taxonomy of this group is still in flux. Some of these subspecies are very similar and the identity of some populations, such as those on Taiwan, is uncertain.
The fawn-breasted thrush of Indonesia and the Bassian thrush and russet-tailed thrush of Australia were also included in Z. dauma in the past.

Behaviour

The scaly thrush is very secretive, preferring dense cover. It nests in trees, laying three or four dull green eggs in a neat cup nest. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms and berries.