Passeriformes / Turdidae / Turdus
Chinese Blackbird
Turdus mandarinus · 乌鸫
Introduction
A member of the thrush family Turdidae, formerly considered conspecific with the common blackbird. It is a partial migrant found in southern, central, and eastern China, extending south to Laos and Vietnam. The species is typically monogamous and omnivorous, primarily feeding on earthworms during the breeding season.
Description
The nominate subspecies is a large bird. The male exhibits sooty black plumage. The female is similar in appearance but displays browner tones and is paler on the underparts. The subspecies Sowerby's blackbird resembles the nominate form but is smaller in size and darker below. Sexual dimorphism is evident in the color differences between males and females of the nominate subspecies.
Identification
Distinguishable from the related common blackbird by its former classification as a separate species and specific regional range. Within the species, the subspecies Sowerby's blackbird can be identified by its smaller size and darker underparts compared to the larger, paler-underparted nominate subspecies. Field identification relies on observing these size and plumage depth variations, particularly the contrast between the sooty black male and the browner, paler female of the nominate group.
Distribution & Habitat
The nominate subspecies breeds throughout much of southern, central, and eastern China, acting as a partial migrant to Hong Kong, Laos, and Vietnam. Sowerby's blackbird breeds from eastern Sichuan to Guizhou. This subspecies is also partially migratory, with some individuals wintering in southern China and northern Indochina.
Behavior & Ecology
The species is typically monogamous, although some exceptions to this mating system have been observed. It has an omnivorous diet. During the breeding season, feeding habits shift significantly, with the bird primarily consuming earthworms.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Turdus
Vocalizations
Subspecies (2)
-
Turdus mandarinus mandarinus
breeds breeds eastern China (from southern Gansu and southern Shaanxi southward through eastern Sichuan to western Yunnan, eastward to Hebei and Guangdong); partially migratory, wintering to Hainan and northern Indochina
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.
