Turdus eunomus
The Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus) is a strikingly patterned, medium-sized thrush, typically measuring 23-26 cm (9-10 inches) in length with a wingspan of 38-42 cm (15-16.5 inches) and weighing 80-120 grams (2.8-4.2 oz). Its most distinctive field marks are the bold, scaly dark brown or blackish spotting across its white breast and belly, contrasting sharply with its bright rufous-chestnut flanks, wing panels, and rump. The back is dark brown, and it possesses a prominent pale supercilium and ...
Primarily inhabits open taiga and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, often near forest edges, clearings, riverine woodlands, and willow thickets, typically at low to mid-elevations. In winter, it favors more open country, agricultural fields, orchards, and urban parks.
Omnivorous, primarily feeding on invertebrates such as earthworms, insect larvae, beetles, and other arthropods, supplemented significantly by various berries and fruits, especially during autumn and winter. Forages primarily on the ground.
Dusky Thrushes are primarily diurnal, exhibiting crepuscular peaks in foraging activity, especially during migration and on wintering grounds, where they often gather in communal roosts at night. Their foraging strategy involves actively walking and running on the ground, frequently pausing to sc...
The Dusky Thrush breeds across a vast expanse of central and eastern Siberia, extending from the Yenisei River eastward through the Russian Far East, northern Mongolia, and into northeastern China. Its primary breeding habitat consists of open taiga and mixed coniferous forests. Following the bre...
Least Concern
- The Dusky Thrush is one of the most anticipated Eurasian vagrants for birders in Alaska and the contiguous United States, with multiple records across North America. - Its scientific name, Turdus eunomus, means "well-ordered" or "well-regulated," possibly referring to its distinctive plumage pa...