Turdus atrogularis
The Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis) is a medium-sized passerine, typically measuring 24-27 cm (9.4-10.6 in) in length and weighing between 63-110 grams (2.2-3.9 oz). Its most distinctive field mark is the male's striking solid black throat and upper breast during the breeding season, which contrasts sharply with its olive-brown back and whitish belly, sometimes with greyish flanks. Females, while sharing the overall thrush shape and olive-brown upperparts, exhibit a streaked dark b...
This species primarily inhabits coniferous and mixed taiga forests, often near forest edges, clearings, or along river valleys, preferring areas with dense undergrowth. It can be found from lowlands up to montane elevations during the breeding season.
Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including insects, worms, and larvae, particularly during the breeding season. In winter, they shift to a diet rich in berries and fruits, which they consume both on the ground and arboreally.
Black-throated Thrushes are diurnal foragers, spending much of their time on the ground, actively turning over leaf litter and probing for food. During the breeding season, males establish and vigorously defend territories through their fluty, melancholic songs and sometimes aggressive displays. ...
The Black-throated Thrush boasts an extensive breeding range across the Palearctic, stretching from the Ural Mountains eastward through Siberia to the Lena River. Its southern breeding limits extend into the Altai, Sayan, and Hangay mountains, as well as parts of Mongolia and northwestern China. ...
Least Concern
- The Black-throated Thrush is renowned for its exceptional vagrancy, having been recorded as far west as Western Europe and even occasionally in North America (e.g., Alaska, Pacific Coast). - Its scientific name, 'atrogularis,' directly translates from Latin to 'black-throated,' perfectly descri...