Yemen Thrush
Turdus menachensis
A typical thrush in shape and size, but with unusually dull coloration. Mostly brown, with darker striping on the throat and breast, and a yellow bill. Females are slightly paler than males. There is a rufous patch at the front of the underwing, which can be conspicuous in flight. Found at middle and high elevations, in a variety of wooded habitats, including thickets, wadis, and cultivated areas, as well as acacia and juniper woodland. The song is a mix of whistles and trilled notes, that averages drier and less musical than typical thrush song. Also makes typical thrush “chk-chk” and thin “tseeep” calls. Similar to female Eurasian Blackbird, but separated by range, paler overall coloration, and yellow bill.
Identification
The Yemen thrush (Turdus menachensis) is a species of bird in the thrush family Turdidae. It is native to the Sarawat Mountains of the western Arabian Peninsula.
Taxonomy
Genus: Turdus; Family: Turdidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Turdus menachensis
- Authority
- Ogilvie-Grant, 1913
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Turdus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Black-throated Blue Warbler
Setophaga caerulescens
Striking warbler with vastly different male and female plumages. Males are unique deep blue above with black face and sides and white belly. Females are plain brownish-olive with dingy buffy underparts and subtle face pattern. Always look for small white patch on the wing, lacking only on the dullest immature females. Breeds in the understory of mixed forests, favoring hills with dense vegetation. Found in nearly any wooded or shrubby habitat during migration. Winters primarily in the Caribbean. Listen for lazy buzzy song, usually a series of notes with a final long buzz.

Golden Parrotbill
Suthora verreauxi
An attractive, social, and vocal small songbird but often difficult to see in the dense scrub and bamboo clusters it prefers. Greenish above, white below, with black throat and golden patch in dark wings. Usually inhabits foothill and upper-elevation forests, but will descend to lower elevations during harsh winters. Loud and vocal: gives chirps, squeaks, trills, and chattering calls.

Brown Illadopsis
Illadopsis fulvescens
A chunky, medium-sized, remarkably drab babbler. Has a white throat in some parts of the range and uniformly brown underparts elsewhere. Found in the understory and at middle levels of rainforest at low and middle elevations, usually in small groups. Shy and skulking; rarely seen unless searched for. Very similar to Pale-breasted Illadopsis; note slight vocal differences, with a more pure whistled song. Brown Illadopsis is also slightly darker below, less richly colored above, and not as cleanly white-throated. Most often detected by voice. The highly variable song consists of single-note pure whistles separated by short pauses; sometimes the same note is repeated and sometimes consecutive notes differ, but listen for a haunting clear monotone whistle. Also gives scolding calls, sometimes accompanying the whistled song.
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