Black-breasted thrush

Turdus dissimilis

Photo by Brian Gratwicke (Wikipedia)

Common name:
black-breasted thrush (en); tordo-de-peito-preto (pt); merle à poitrine noire (fr); zorzal pechinegro (es); schwarzbrustdrossel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Turdidae

Range:
This species is found in northern Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, marginally into north-eastern India and Bangladesh, and in southern China in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan.

Size:
These birds are 18-23,5 cm long and weigh 75 g.

Habitat:
The black-breasted thrush is mostly found in moist tropical forests with dense understory, and also in mangroves, moist scrublands and dry tropical forests including mountain pine woodlands. They are found at altitudes of 1.200-2.500 m.

Diet:
They mainly forage on the ground, taking insects, snails, slugs and other invertebrates. They also consume berries and ripe figs.

Breeding:
Black-breasted thrushes breed in April-June. The nest is a sturdy cup made of green moss and plant fibres, placed on a fork in a small tree or scrub, or occasionally on the ground. It is usually placed 1-6 m above the ground. There the female lays 3-4 buff, pale green or greenish-blue eggs with dark markings, which are incubated for 12-14 days. The is no information regarding the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common to rare. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and degradation, but it is not considered threatened at present.