Pale Thrush

Overview

The pale thrush is a passerine bird of the eastern Palearctic in the genus Turdus. It is a shy species that keeps to cover and is closely related to the eye-browed thrush and grey-backed thrush.

Identification

• 23 cm long with a bill that is grey above and yellow below.
• Male is brown above with a blue-grey head and throat; female is similar but duller with a browner head and pale throat.
• Underparts are pale brown, darker on the flanks and whitish on the belly and undertail-coverts.
• Tail is dark grey with white tips to the outer feathers; has harsh chuck-chuck and see-ip calls and a bubbling alarm call.

Habitat

Breeds in south-east Siberia, north-east China and Korea, possibly Japan. Largely migratory, wintering in southern and central Japan, South Korea and southern China. Inhabits forests, scrub, gardens and parks.

Did you know?

It can occur in large flocks on migration, particularly where there are berries.