Chinese Blackbird

Overview

The Chinese blackbird (Turdus mandarinus) is a member of the thrush family Turdidae, currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It was formerly considered the same species as the common blackbird (T. merula) but is now treated as distinct.

Identification

• The T. m. mandarinus subspecies is described as a large bird, with males appearing sooty black and females being similar but browner and paler on the underparts.
• The T. m. sowerbyi subspecies resembles the nominate but is smaller and darker below.

Habitat

The T. m. mandarinus subspecies breeds throughout much of southern, central, and eastern China, migrating partially to Hong Kong, Laos, and Vietnam. The T. m. sowerbyi subspecies breeds from eastern Sichuan to Guizhou, with some individuals spending the winter in southern China and northern Indochina.

Diet

The species is omnivorous. During the breeding season, its primary food source is earthworms.

Did you know?

Although it is typically monogamous, exceptions to this pairing behaviour have been observed.