Thrushes · Perching birds
White's Thrush
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Zoothera aurea
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How to recognize it
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Body length 27–31 cm
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Black scaling on a white or yellowish background
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In flight, a black band on the white underwings
About the species
White’s Thrush is pale white to yellowish, with black, scale-shaped markings across its plumage. The dark pattern gives its body a finely mottled look, and a black band crosses the white underside of each wing in flight. Males and females look much alike.
The male gives a loud, far-carrying whistle, with a one-second “twee... tuuu...” phrase followed by a pause of five to ten seconds. Its song has a mechanical tone, and the long gaps separate each phrase.
It breeds in wet coniferous taiga from Siberia east to Manchuria, Korea and Japan. Most individuals in northern populations move to Southeast Asia for winter, and it is a very rare visitor to western Europe.
Where to find
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In Siberia's wet coniferous taiga, listen for the male White's Thrush's loud, far-carrying whistle, with pauses between short phrases.
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In wet coniferous taiga farther east, from Manchuria to Korea and Japan, look for the black band on white underwings in flight.
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Vagrants are very rare in Western Europe; if you hear that far-carrying whistle with pauses, don't expect a regular city encounter.
