riquated ID Ethiopia (1 Viewer)

I took those pictures two weeks ago in Ethiopia on Lake Ziway.

The first bird is, I think African Thrush, but the second picture shows Mountain Thrush?



Regards

Mietek

I don't personally know but what lovely photo's - especially the first one!

Hi Lanhua,

I think both of your photos are African Thrush.

If you use 'Birds of the Horn of Africa' then the picture of Mountain Thush is poor in that it doesn't capture the really strong colouration of this bird. The book 'Birds of Africa South of the Sahara' has a much better (more useful) illustration.

Mountain Thrush has a really orange bill, dark grey (not brownish) upperparts and head, and a greyish breast with a very orange belly and no white or beige colouration.

I think some races of African Thrush might look darker and more like Mountain Thrush than your birds, but I don't think the reverse is true - I don't think there are pale versions of Mountain Thrush.

See the two attached photos - one from Gondar, one from Bale (to show it's not a regional thing).

Mac Nara, actually I can follow your explanation.
thanks

Mietek

Hi Lanhua,

I agree with MacNara, both your photos are the African Thrush. I see both African and Montane/Mountain/Abyssinian pretty regularly, and MacNara's description is spot on. The Mountain is easily identifiable by its overall darkerness compared with the paler African.