Scaly Thrush
Zoothera dauma
Large thrush with black-edged golden “scaly” feathering. Distinctive in much of range, but a source of consternation in areas overlapping with closely related White’s Thrush; taxonomy and distinguishing characteristics still not completely resolved. Song is a disjointed series of halting ringing notes, often including harsher, buzzier elements; very different from whistles of White’s Thrush. Breeds in hill and montane forests and winters at lower altitudes in forests and forest edge.
Identification
The sexes are similar, 27–31 cm long, with black scaling on a paler white or yellowish background. The most striking identification feature in flight is the black band on the white underwings, a feature shared with Siberian thrush. The male has a song which is a loud, far-carrying mechanical whistle, with 5-10 second pauses between each one second long phrase twee...tuuu....tuuu....tuuu.
Taxonomy
There are several races which are now often split into a varying number of separate species. Z. aurea (White's thrush), including the questionable subspecies Z. a. toratugumi, is the migratory Siberian and north-east Asian form. Z. neilgherriensis (Nilgiri thrush) is resident in the hills of southwest India. Z. imbricata (Sri Lanka thrush) is endemic to the hills of Sri Lanka and is particularly distinctive, being smaller, long-billed and rufous below. Z. d. dauma (scaly thrush) breeds in the Himalaya and migrates to the foothills in winter. Z. d. horsfieldi (Horsfield's thrush) is resident in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. Z. major (Amami thrush) is restricted to the Amami Islands in Japan and is now considered a distinct species.<p>The taxonomy of this group is still in flux. Some of these subspecies are very similar and the identity of some populations, such as those on Taiwan, is uncertain.<p>The fawn-breasted thrush (Z. machiki) of Indonesia and the Bassian thrush (Z. lunulata) and russet-tailed thrush (Z. heinei) of Australia were also included in Z. dauma in the past.
- Scientific name
- Zoothera dauma
- Authority
- (Latham, 1790)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Zoothera
Range and habitat
It breeds in wet coniferous taiga, mainly in the Himalayas through Malaysia.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Tiny rail, the size of a sparrow and nearly impossible to see without tremendous effort. Slate gray overall with a piercing red eye, brown nape, and white spotting on wings. Beware confusion with downy young of other rail species, which are entirely black. Inhabits drier areas in fresh and saltwater marshes with cattail, sedge, and other tall grasses. Typically rare even in proper habitat. Incredibly difficult to locate even when vocalizing within mere feet of an observer; stealthily dashes around at the base of dense grass like a ninja. Easiest to detect by its distinctive song, most often heard at night: a churring "kick-ee-derr", two higher notes followed by a lower note.
Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner
Anabacerthia lichtensteini
Medium-sized foliage-gleaner with a short bill and attractive head pattern giving it a “cute” look. The crown and mask are gray-brown contrasting with a buffy-yellow eyebrow and throat. Buffy and unstreaked below and rufous-brown above. Found in the upper levels of forests and second growth. The song is a short fast trill.
Northern Emerald-Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Medium-sized, grass-green toucan of humid tropical forest in foothills and highlands; also very locally in lowlands. Usually in pairs or small groups, moving through the canopy or feeding at fruiting trees. Nothing similar in its range. Note the rusty tail tips, best seen from below. Pattern of black and yellow on bill varies from region to region.
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