Passeriformes / Turdidae / Turdus
Black-breasted Thrush
Turdus dissimilis · 黑胸鸫
Introduction
A monotypic species in the family Turdidae, found from north-eastern India to northern Vietnam. It inhabits high-altitude forests and exhibits sexual dimorphism in upperpart plumage, with males displaying black upper sections. The species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Description
Total length ranges from 22 cm (8.7 in) to 23.5 cm (9.3 in). Lower parts are the same color for both sexes. Males have a black head, nape, and breast, with slate gray remaining upperparts. Females are gray-brown from the eyes to the tail, with a diffused buff shade from the throat to the breast.
Identification
Males are distinguished by black upper sections including the head, nape, and breast, contrasting with slate gray back and wings. Females are gray-brown above with a buff throat and breast. Both sexes share similar lower part coloration.
Distribution & Habitat
Range extends from north-eastern India to northern Vietnam, including southwestern China. Preferred habitats are moist tropical and subtropical montane forests at elevations of 1,220 m (4,000 ft) to 2,500 m (8,200 ft). Less common in dry forests, shrublands, and mangroves above high tide level. Birds descend to around 200 m (660 ft) in winter. Distribution range covers over 752,000 square kilometres (290,000 sq mi).
Behavior & Ecology
Call is described as sweet, mellow, and melodious, with musical phrases spanning 3–8 notes. Diet consists of insects, molluscs, and berries, primarily gathered from the ground but occasionally from fruit trees. Breeding seasons vary by location: April to July in India, April to June in Myanmar, and May to June in China.
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The population has decreased over the last ten years due to destruction and degradation of natural habitat, but the decline rate does not meet the threshold for Vulnerable status (more than 30% in ten years or three generations).
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Turdus
Distribution
mountains of Assam to southwestern China, northern Myanmar, and northern southeastern Asia
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
