Turdus albocinctus
The White-collared Blackbird (*Turdus albocinctus*) is a striking medium-sized thrush, measuring 25-28 cm (10-11 inches) in length and weighing 85-110 grams. Adult males are easily identified by their glossy black plumage contrasted sharply with a broad, pristine white collar encircling the neck from the nape to the throat. Their bright yellow or orange-yellow bill, legs, and distinct eye-ring complete this distinctive appearance. Females are typically duller, presenting a sooty-brown to dark...
This species primarily inhabits high-altitude broadleaf and coniferous forests, often frequenting forest edges, clearings, and areas near cultivation. It typically occurs at elevations ranging from 1500m to 4000m (5,000-13,000 feet) throughout its range.
Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates such as earthworms, insects, and snails, supplemented significantly by a variety of wild fruits and berries. They forage primarily on the ground by gleaning and probing, but also consume fruits directly from shrubs and trees.
White-collared Blackbirds are diurnal, spending their active hours foraging on the ground and in the canopy, and typically roost communally in dense vegetation. They forage by hopping on the forest floor, pausing frequently to cock their heads and glean invertebrates, or by plucking berries from ...
The White-collared Blackbird is endemic to the Himalayan mountain ranges and adjacent highlands of South and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from northern Pakistan eastward through the entire Himalayan arc, encompassing northern India (including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, a...
Least Concern
- The White-collared Blackbird is one of several thrush species mistakenly called 'blackbirds' due to their dark plumage, but they are true thrushes, not related to the New World blackbirds (Icterids). - Its strikingly broad white collar makes it one of the most easily identifiable thrushes in th...