From Opus

Photo by Mark Harper in Ruoergai, Sichuan, China

Alternative name: Kessler's Thrush; Przevalski's Thrush

Turdus kessleri

[edit] Identification

With 28cm a large thrush.
Male:

• Black hood
• Black wings and tail
• Pale buff mantle and lower breast
• Dark chestnut scapulars, rump and belly

Female:

• Same pattern but duller
• Dark brown hood and grey mantle
• Grey breast

Juvenile:

• Similar to female
• Heavy white spots on scapulars and mantle
• Pale streaks on head

[edit] Similar species

The female looks similar to the local race of Eurasian Blackbird (Tibetian Blackbird). Chestnut Thrush has a similar pattern but the hood is not as dark and the mantle is dark chestnut.

[edit] Distribution

Mainly found in the east and northeast of the Tibetian Plateau in China (Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, Xizang). Vagrant in winter to the Himalayas of Nepal and Bhutan.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Dwarf bushes (eg rhododendron or juniper) and rocky scrub above the tree-line. Usually found at 3600 - 4500m, descending to 2000m in winter.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects, worms and berries (autumn), mostly foraging on the ground.
Often seen in flocks or with other thrushes.
Breeding season from May to August. A sociable nester, while females are incubating the males are together in feeding flocks. The nest is a cup, made of gras stems, feathers and hair, placed in a bush or under a rock over streambed. 3 - 4 eggs are laid.
A semi-nomadic species with altitudinal movements in winter, moving down in extreme cold weather.

[edit] References

1. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2005. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334726
2. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

[edit] External Links