Grey-backed Thrush

Overview

The grey-backed thrush, Turdus hortulorum, is a medium-sized passerine bird within the family Turdidae. It is a migratory species that breeds in the northeast of China and the Russian Far East before overwintering in southern China and northern Vietnam.

Identification

• Males feature a slate grey back and chest, contrasting with a white chin and belly and distinct rufous flanks.
• Females exhibit grey or brown backs with dark spots on the chest, sharing similar plumage to males on the belly and flanks.
• The species is medium-sized, with birds measuring 20–23 cm in length and having a mean weight of 66.7 g.

Habitat

This species primarily inhabits temperate forests, specifically those with rolling terrain that may be deciduous or evergreen. It rarely ascends above an elevation of 1,100 m.

Diet

The grey-backed thrush consumes a mixed diet consisting of both fruit and insects.

Did you know?

In captivity, a pair was observed laying five eggs that hatched 14 days after the first was laid, with the chicks remaining in the nest for a further 12 days before fledging.