Turdus kessleri
The White-backed Thrush (*Turdus kessleri*) is a striking passerine bird, instantly recognizable by its eponymous clean white back, rump, and flanks, contrasting sharply with a dark, often blackish-brown head, breast, and upperparts. Measuring approximately 28-30 cm in length with a robust build, it sports a distinctive orange-yellow bill and matching legs, which stand out against its dark plumage. There is minimal sexual dimorphism, with females typically slightly duller, though often hard t...
This species primarily inhabits open, high-altitude alpine meadows, scrub, and juniper forests above the tree-line, typically found between 3,000 and 4,500 meters during the breeding season. In winter, it descends to lower elevations, often found in agricultural fields, open woodlands, and valleys.
Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including earthworms, insects, and insect larvae, supplemented heavily by a wide variety of berries and fruits, especially outside the breeding season. They forage primarily by gleaning from the ground or plucking from shrubs.
White-backed Thrushes are primarily diurnal, foraging actively on the ground during the day and typically roosting in dense scrub or trees at night. Their foraging strategy involves running short distances, pausing to scan, and then pecking at the ground for invertebrates or plucking berries from...
The White-backed Thrush has an extensive breeding range across the high-altitude regions of Central Asia, primarily centered on the Tibetan Plateau. This includes western and central China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan), parts of Mongolia, and eastward into Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afgha...
Least Concern
- The White-backed Thrush's scientific name, *Turdus kessleri*, honors the Russian zoologist Karl Fedorovich Kessler. - Its striking white back makes it one of the most easily identifiable thrushes in its range, a unique feature among its genus. - During winter, White-backed Thrushes can form imm...