African Thrush
Turdus pelios
This widespread thrush shows a large amount of geographical variation. The upperparts are generally gray-brown, while the underparts can be buff, gray, or rufous. All across the range, shows a yellow bill. Found in a range of habitats, including forest edge, woodland, gardens, and cultivation. In areas without Abyssinian Thrush, also occurs in montane forest. The song is a pretty, variable series of chatty whistles and trills which can continue for a long time without a pause. Similar to Abyssinian Thrush, but found at lower elevations in areas of overlap, and is generally paler, with a paler yellow bill.
Identification
The African Thrush has dark olive-grey upperparts. The underparts show a whitish evenly brown- streaked side throat, the breast is greyish brown and the flanks are pale buff-orange with this colour not extending on to the lower breast, the belly and vent are white. It has a yellow-orange bill. It weighs 46–78 g (1.6–2.8 oz) and measures 21–23 cm (8.3–9.1 in) in length.<p>The song of the African thrush is a sustained, clear warbling made up of different phrases repeated rather randomly in a sequence. Also a high-pitched squealing flight call.
Taxonomy
The African thrush may be part of a superspecies with the Kurrichane thrush and the bare-eyed thrush, and some subspecies of African thrush (T.p. poensis, T.p.nigrilorum, T.p. centralis and T.p. chinguanicoides) have been considered subspecies of olive thrush.<p>The currently recognised subspecies and their distributions are:
- Scientific name
- Turdus pelios
- Authority
- Bonaparte, 1850
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Turdus
Range and habitat
The African thrush is distributed from Senegal and Gambia in the west to South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea south to northwestern Zambia and western Angola. The African thrush can be found in all sorts of wooded habitats including forest edge, riparian woodland, scrub cultivation, parks and gardens.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-winged Pytilia
Pytilia phoenicoptera
An unusual and pretty member of the waxbill family. Shows fine pale barring below, mostly deep red wings, and a red rump and tail. Females are paler gray. Found in moist broadleaf woodland, savanna, and thickets. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous, singly or in pairs. Sometimes joins flocks with other birds. Similar to Green-winged and Red-faced Pytilias, but separated by the red wing. The calls are short trills and a rising “spink” note. The song is a mix of higher whistles and lower growling notes.
Pale Crag-Martin
Ptyonoprogne obsoleta
A subtly colored gray-brown member of the swallow family. Note the slightly forked tail with white spots. Nests in canyons, escarpments, gorges, and buildings; frequently in arid areas. Often seen in pairs or small groups. Not very vocal; sometimes gives a short, dry trill. In areas of overlap, averages smaller and paler than the very similar Eurasian Crag-Martin, with underwing coverts that are only slightly darker than the rest of the wing. At a distance, can be confused with “Riparia” martins; look for Pale Crag-Martin’s white tail patches.
Philippine Serpent-Eagle
Spilornis holospilus
A fairly large, common raptor of forest and more open wooded areas from the lowlands to the lower mountains. Dark brown with white speckles on the crown and upperparts, rufous-brown below with large white spots. Note the gray cheek and yellow eye. Differs from other raptors in its range by its bare yellow skin between the bill and eye, and in flight by its dark terminal band to the wings and tail. Often gives a whistled “weeeeeuuuu weu weu” in flight, or sometimes just a single note.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.