Alternative names: Celebes Mountain Thrush; Celebes Ground-thrush, Heinrich's Whistling-thrush
- Geomalia heinrichi
Identification
28 - 30cm. A distinctive species with a long, graduated tail and short rounded wings.
- Dark brown to slate-grey above
- Rusty-tinged wingpanel
- Paler brown face with vague small streaks
- Vague dark grey malar
- Reddish-brown underparts
- Heavy blackish bill
- Brownish-grey legs
Sexes similar
Distribution
Endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia.
A scarce, but locally fairly common restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
- G. h. heinrichi in north-central and south-central Sulawesi
- G. h. matinangensis in northern and southeast Sulawesi
Some authorities[2] don't accept matinangensis and treat this species as monotypic[1].
The taxonomic placement of this species has been much discussed. It probably is related to the Zoothera thrushes.
Habitat
Primary montane evergreen forest. Prefers areas with dense undergrowth. Occurs at 1700 - 3500m.
Behaviour
Feeds on large insects, beetle larvae and small snails.
Forage on the ground, moving and hopping through undergrowth.
No information about breeding.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- 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
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Geomalia. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Geomalia
