Turdus hortulorum
The Grey-backed Thrush, *Turdus hortulorum*, is a striking medium-sized passerine, measuring approximately 20-23 cm (8-9 in) in length and weighing between 55-75 grams (1.9-2.6 oz). Its most distinctive feature is the pronounced sexual dimorphism: adult males boast a glossy black head and throat contrasting sharply with a slate-grey back and pure white underparts, complemented by a bright orange bill and eye-ring. Females, while sharing the grey back, have a duller, brownish-grey head and a p...
This thrush breeds in dense deciduous or mixed broadleaf forests, often near clearings, rivers, or woodland edges at low to mid-elevations. In winter, it favors tropical and subtropical lowland forests, secondary growth, parks, and even urban gardens.
Primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, consuming earthworms, beetles, larvae, and other invertebrates, supplemented with a significant intake of various wild fruits and berries, especially during migration and winter.
Diurnal in its activity, the Grey-backed Thrush predominantly forages on the ground, employing a typical thrush 'run-and-stop' technique to search for prey among leaf litter and probe soft soil. Males are highly territorial during the breeding season, defending their chosen areas with vigorous si...
The Grey-backed Thrush breeds across a significant portion of Northeast Asia, primarily in Northeast China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning provinces), the Russian Far East (especially Primorye Territory), and North Korea. Its breeding habitats extend from lowlands up to approximately 1,500 meters ...
Least Concern
- The male's striking black head and grey back make it one of the most distinctly patterned migratory thrushes in East Asia. - Its scientific name, *hortulorum*, translates from Latin to 'of gardens', a nod to its preference for well-wooded parks and gardens during its wintering period. - Despite...