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Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis) — photo 1 of 6
© Настя Бухвалова cc-by

Thrushes · Perching birds

Black-throated Thrush

Turdus atrogularis

How to recognize it

  • 24–27 cm, a bit smaller and slimmer than a fieldfare

  • Blackish-brown patch from chin to breast

  • Grey-brown upperparts, pale underparts; orange-red underwing coverts show in flight

  • Song with a loud whistled "tsirl", "tsil-tsil"

About the species

The black-throated thrush is a ground-feeding thrush that keeps to forest edges, older mixed woods, and damp places with thick undergrowth. In flight, the male shows a rusty flash under the wing, while the throat and breast carry the dark patch that gives the species its name.

Its song is a slow, changeable string of whistles and short trills, often with a slurring note that sounds like "cirl" or "cyl." Males sing most actively at dawn, and farther north they sing more at night. When disturbed, it gives sharp, repeated calls.

It breeds across Siberia and nearby mountain forest, and winters in parts of Central, Southern, and East Asia. On the ground it takes worms, other invertebrates, and berries, and later in the year it also eats seeds and cherries.

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