Black-throated Thrush

Overview

The black-throated thrush is a large passerine bird in the thrush family that is migratory and found in the Eastern Palearctic. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the dark-throated thrush but is now recognised as a separate species from the red-throated thrush.

Identification

• Large and distinctive thrush with grey upperparts and whitish underparts.
• Males possess black plumage from the chin to the breast and a greyish black tail, while females and immatures show dusky streaking instead of the black.
• Characterised by orange-red underwing coverts.

Habitat

This species breeds along the edges of clearings in coniferous or mixed deciduous forests, often utilising the undergrowth of Siberian pine or mixed spruce fir woodland, particularly near watercourses or in swampy areas. Its breeding range extends from the extreme east of Europe to Western Siberia and north-west Mongolia, while its wintering range covers the Middle East to eastern Myanmar.

Diet

These thrushes typically feed on the ground, consuming a diet that usually includes invertebrates. They also feed on various berries, cherries, and some seeds.

Did you know?

During the winter months, they are often found in large flocks with other thrushes such as Tickell's thrush, eye-browed thrush, and mistle thrush. They roost in dense evergreen vegetation and behave similarly to the fieldfare when not in their breeding phase.