Geokichla cinerea
The Ashy Thrush (Geokichla cinerea) is a captivating medium-sized songbird, measuring approximately 20-22 cm (8-9 inches) in length, renowned for its distinctive plumage and secretive nature. It sports a striking ashy-grey head and upperparts, sharply contrasted by a bold white eye-ring and a prominent black moustachial stripe that stands out against its white throat. Its underparts are predominantly white, becoming heavily scaled or barred with dark grey on the flanks, adding to its intricat...
Found primarily in subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, occasionally extending into lower montane and foothill forests, typically at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, and earthworms, supplemented with small fruits and berries.
The Ashy Thrush is a generally shy and reclusive species, often detected more by its melodious song than by sight. It is a diurnal bird, spending much of its active time foraging on the forest floor, meticulously sifting through leaf litter for invertebrates. During the breeding season, males est...
The Ashy Thrush is endemic to the Philippines, with a disjunct distribution across several of the archipelago's major islands. Its primary range includes the montane and lower montane forests of Luzon, Mindoro, Negros, and Panay. While historically recorded on Cebu, its presence there is now cons...
Near Threatened
- The Ashy Thrush is one of the Philippines' endemic bird species, found nowhere else in the world. - Its scientific genus name, Geokichla, means 'earth thrush,' reflecting its habit of foraging on the forest floor. - Despite its striking appearance, it is notoriously shy and difficult to observe...