Scaly thrush

Scaly thrush
FromEast Java,Indonesia.
Conservation status
Least Concern(IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Turdidae
Genus:	Zoothera
Species:	Z. dauma
Binomial name
Zoothera dauma (Latham,1790)
Synonyms
Geocichla horsfieldi

Thescaly thrush(Zoothera dauma) is a member of thethrushfamily Turdidae.

Distribution and habitat

It breeds in wetconiferoustaiga,mainly in theHimalayasthroughMalaysia.

Description

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 withSiberian thrush.The male has a song which is a loud, far-carrying mechanical whistle, with 5-10 second pauses between each one second long phrasetwee...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 subspeciesZ. a. toratugumi,is the migratory Siberian and north-east Asian form.Z. neilgherriensis(Nilgiri thrush) is resident in the hills of southwestIndia.Z. imbricata(Sri Lanka thrush) is endemic to the hills ofSri Lankaand is particularly distinctive, being smaller, long-billed andrufousbelow.Z. d. dauma(scaly thrush) breeds in theHimalayaand migrates to the foothills in winter.Z. d. horsfieldi(Horsfield's thrush) is resident inIndonesiaon the islands ofSumatra,Java,Bali,LombokandSumbawa.Z. major(Amami thrush) is restricted to theAmami IslandsinJapanand is now considered a distinct species.

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 onTaiwan,is uncertain.

Thefawn-breasted thrush(Z. machiki) of Indonesia and theBassian thrush(Z. lunulata) andrusset-tailed thrush(Z. heinei) ofAustraliawere also included inZ. daumain the past.

Behaviour

The scaly thrush is very secretive, preferring dense cover. It nests in trees, laying three or four dull greeneggsin a neatcup nest.It is omnivorous, eating a wide range ofinsects,earthwormsand berries.

References

• Brazil, Mark (2009)Birds of East Asia,Christopher Helm, London.
• Collar, N. J. (2004)Species limits in some Indonesian thrushes,Forktail,20: 71–87.
• Internet Bird Collection.Common Scaly Thrush (Zoothera dauma).Retrieved 10 January 2010.
• Birds of Indiaby Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp,ISBN0-691-04910-6
• Thrushesby Clement and Hathaway,ISBN0-7136-3940-7

External links

• White's thrushcaught at the birdringgingstation atSchiermonnikoog,Netherlands