Austral thrush
| Austral thrush | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Magellan thrush, illustration by Keulemans, 1881 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Turdidae |
| Genus: | Turdus |
| Species: | T. falcklandii |
| Subspecies: | See text |
| Binomial name | |
| Turdus falcklandii Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 | |
The austral thrush (Turdus falcklandii) is a medium sized thrush from southern South America. There are two subspecies, the Magellan thrush (T. f. magellanicus) from south Argentina and south and central Chile, and the Falkland thrush (T. f. falcklandii) from the Falkland Islands.
The austral thrush is similar to the European blackbird, also of the genus Turdus, with a yellow bill and feet, a dark brown head, back and wings and paler underparts. The smaller T. f. magellanicus is more olive below, while in T. f. falcklandii the underside tends towards ochre. Both subspecies have streaked throats.
In Chile and Argentina the austral thrush lives in a variety of habitats from Nothofagus forests to agricultural lands and even gardens. On the Falkland Islands it makes use of human altered habitat as well but is most numerous in tussac grasses near beaches.
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Turdus falcklandii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- Collar, N. J. (2005) Family Turdidae (Thrushes) pp. 514–811 in: del Hoyo. J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., (eds), Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume Ten, Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes, ISBN 84-87334-72-5
External links
- Videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Stamps (for Chile, Falkland Islands) with a range map
- Photo gallery on VIREO
- Photo; Article sunbirdtours
- Photo; Article railwaytouring.co.uk
