Geokichla sibirica
The Siberian Thrush (Geokichla sibirica) is a medium-sized, highly migratory passerine belonging to the true thrush family Turdidae. Males are strikingly dimorphic, displaying a dark slate-blue to black plumage over most of the body, contrasted sharply by a prominent white supercilium extending from the lores to beyond the eye, and a distinct orange wash on the lower flanks and vent. Females, in contrast, are cryptically colored with olive-brown upperparts, a buffy-white supercilium, and a sc...
This species primarily inhabits dense, moist coniferous or mixed forests, particularly those with a rich understory of shrubs and saplings, often found along stream valleys or damp ravines. It occurs from lowlands up to mid-elevations in mountainous regions.
Its diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including insects, worms, and snails, supplemented with various berries and fruits, especially during migration and winter. Forages primarily by gleaning and probing on the forest floor.
Siberian Thrushes are predominantly crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk, though they can be observed foraging throughout the day in dense cover. They are typically solitary birds, especially outside of the breeding season and during migration, often remaining hidden within dense vegetat...
The Siberian Thrush breeds across a broad expanse of boreal and temperate Asia, from central and eastern Siberia eastward through the Russian Far East, northern China, the Korean Peninsula, and Hokkaido, Japan. Its wintering grounds are located in tropical Southeast Asia, encompassing areas from ...
Least Concern
- Males of the Siberian Thrush are so strikingly patterned with dark slate and bright white supercilium that they've been dubbed the "Ghost of the Forest" due to their elusive nature. - Despite its name, this thrush has a breeding range that extends beyond Siberia, reaching into the Russian Far E...