Scaly Thrush
Zoothera dauma
小虎斑地鸫
Introduction
A member of the thrush family Turdidae. Breeds in dense wet forests in the Himalayas east through southwestern China to northern Indochina, with disjunct populations on Iriomote Island off southern Japan and on Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. Very secretive, preferring dense cover. The most distinctive feature is the black band on white underwings visible in flight, shared with other species in the genus Zoothera and Siberian thrush.
Description
Sexes are similar, measuring 27–31 cm in length. Plumage shows black scaling on a paler white or yellowish background. The most conspicuous feature in flight is the black band across the white underwings.
Identification
Key identification feature is the black band on white underwings, visible in flight. This trait is shared with other Zoothera species and the Siberian thrush. The male's song is a loud, far-carrying mechanical whistle with distinctive 5-10 second pauses between each one-second-long phrase 'twee...tuuu....tuuu....tuuu'.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds in dense wet forests across the Himalayas east through southwestern China to northern Indochina. Three disjunct populations exist: Z. d. dauma from the Himalayas to southwest China and northern Thailand, being a short-distance altitudinal migrant moving to foothills in winter; Z. d. horsfieldi resident on Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa; and Z. d. iriomotensis resident on Iriomote Island.
Behavior & Ecology
A very secretive bird preferring dense cover. Nests in trees, building a neat cup nest containing three or four dull green eggs. Omnivorous diet includes a wide range of insects, earthworms, and berries. Male produces a loud, far-carrying mechanical whistle song with distinctive pauses between phrases.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Zoothera
- eBird Code
- scathr8
Subspecies (3)
-
Zoothera dauma dauma
breeds northern Pakistan eastward to northeastern India, southern China, and northern Indochina; winters northern South Asia and continental southeastern Asia
-
Zoothera dauma horsfieldi
mountains of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa
-
Zoothera dauma iriomotensis
Iriomotejima (southern Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan)
Data Sources
CBR Notes: 中文名由虎斑地鸫改为小虎斑地鸫
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.