Scaly-breasted Thrasher
Allenia fusca
A drab-colored and inconspicuous species typically found from the middle level to the canopy in woodlands, where it mostly feeds on fruits. This species can be distinguished from similarly shaped and colored Pearly-eyed Thrasher by its short dark bill and barred, not streaked, underparts. Song is a deliberate series of high-pitched squeaks and lower-pitched whistles. Most common call is a high, thin whistle.
Identification
The scaly-breasted thrasher is approximately 23 cm (9.1 in) long and weighs 53 to 98 g (1.9 to 3.5 oz) with an average weight of 67 g (2.4 oz). With its rather short and slightly decurved bill, this thrasher resembles a thrush. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark gray-brown head and upperparts with a reddish tinge on the rump. Their tail is a darker brownish black and its outer feathers have white tips. The folded wing shows a single white bar. Their chin and throat are whitish with brown streaks. The underparts are whitish and the chest and flanks have bold gray-brown markings that give the eponymous scaly appearance.<p>The other subspecies differ mostly in size and the intensity of their upperparts' color. A. f. hypenema is the largest and is paler than the nominate. A. f. schwartzi is mid-sized and has more white on its tail. A. f. vincenti is the smallest and is darker overall than the nominate. A. f. atlantica compared to the nominate is more reddish brown above and has less white in the tail.
Taxonomy
The scaly-breasted thrasher was originally placed in genus Margarops with the pearly-eyed thrasher (M. fuscatus) but is now in the monotypic genus Allenia. It has five subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Allenia fusca
- Authority
- (Müller, PLS, 1776)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Mimidae
- Genus
- Allenia
Range and habitat
The subspecies of scaly-breasted thrasher are found thus:<p>The scaly-breasted thrasher primarily inhabits forest and semi-open woodland and is also found around human settlements.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The scaly-breasted thrasher forages in trees; on different islands it hunts at different levels from low down to high in the canopy. It is omnivorous; its diet includes arthropods, fruits, and berries. It appears to eat a larger percentage of vegetable foods than other thrashers.<p>The scaly-breasted thrasher breeds in May and June. It builds a cup nest in a bush or tree. The clutch size is two or three.<p>The scaly-breasted thrasher's song is a "[s]eries of varied notes and phrases" similar to that of Mimus mockingbirds but softer and slower.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Camiguin Boobook
Ninox leventisi
A rare medium-sized owl of remnant broadleaf forest on Camiguin Island. Uniformly barred, with a brown head and upperparts, a pale bar behind the shoulder, warmer brown underparts, long whiskers around the face, and pale yellow eyes. Note the white throat patch. Song is a rapid series of fairly low “woop” notes, sometimes given in duet. White throat particularly noticeable when calling.
Romblon Boobook
Ninox spilonotus
A rare medium-sized owl of lowland and foothill forest on Tablas, Romblon, and Sibuyan islands. Upperparts, chest, and head dark brown and indistinctly barred. Underparts reddish brown. Note the long whiskers around the face and the bright yellow eyes. Probably the only owl in its range except for Mantanani Scops-Owl, but Romblon Boobook is reddish rather than gray and lacks the black line around the face. Song is a phrase of three notes, “wik weu-weu,” with the second and third being descending rasping notes.
Orange-banded Thrush
Geokichla peronii
An unmistakable thrush with a “tiger-striped” face pattern, a white throat, a broad orange chest band, orange flanks, a white belly, and extensive bold white wing markings. Juveniles show rusty wing spots, pale streaking, a black and buff breast band, and black flank spots. Forages singly or in pairs on the ground and in trees, in forests and wooded patches within lowlands and hills. Confined to the eastern Lesser Sundas. Gives a rich, musical song characteristic of thrushes, with sequences of fluty upslurred and downslurred whistled notes comprising repeated phrases mixed with softer, chuckling sounds and thin, high-pitched notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.