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Tasman Sea Island Thrush (Turdus poliocephalus)

Tasman Sea Island Thrush

Turdus poliocephalus

Least Concern

Overview

The Tasman Sea island thrush (Turdus poliocephalus) is an extinct forest bird in the thrush family that was formerly found on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the 'island thrush' complex that has been split into 17 species based on a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2023. Both of its subspecies became extinct in historical times.

Habitat

This species was an extinct forest bird formerly found on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean. Its range is now restricted to these two locations east of Australia, where the two subspecies, Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus and Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus, were previously recorded.

Did you know?

The nominate race T. p. poliocephalus was relatively common as recently as 1941, yet by 1975 it had become extinct due to introduced black rats, habitat loss, and hybridisation following colonisation by the closely related common blackbird.

Sources