Naumann's Thrush
Encyclopedia
Naumann's Thrush, Turdus naumanni, is a member of the thrush
family Turdidae which breeds eastwards from central Siberia
. It is closely related to the more northerly breeding Dusky Thrush
T. eunomus; the two have often been regarded as conspecific.
This species breeds in open woodland areas; Dusky Thrush, as would be expected, is more tolerant of mountainous and tundra-edge habitats. This species is strongly migratory
, wintering south to southeast Asia
, principally in China
and neighbouring countries. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe
.
It nests in trees, laying 3-5 egg
s in an untidy but neatly lined nest. Migrating birds and wintering birds often form small flocks. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, especially mosquito
es, earthworm
s and berries.
This is a medium-sized but stocky thrush, reminiscent in structure of a small Fieldfare
. The underwing is reddish brown, and there is a pale supercilium.
Naumann's Thrush has pale brown back and head. The face, breast, flank spots and rump are reddish, and the belly and undertail are white, whereas Dusky Thrush has a darker brown back and rump, and the face, breast, and flank spots rump are black. The belly and undertail are white.
The female is fairly similar to the male, but immatures have a weaker patterning.
The song of Naumann's Thrush may differ from the simple fluted or whistling Redwing
-like song of Dusky Thrush.
The scientific and English names of this bird commemorate the German naturalist Johann Andreas Naumann
.
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
family Turdidae which breeds eastwards from central Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. It is closely related to the more northerly breeding Dusky Thrush
Dusky Thrush
The Dusky Thrush, Turdus eunomus, is a member of the thrush family Turdidae which breeds eastwards from central Siberia. It is closely related to the more southerly breeding Naumann's Thrush T...
T. eunomus; the two have often been regarded as conspecific.
This species breeds in open woodland areas; Dusky Thrush, as would be expected, is more tolerant of mountainous and tundra-edge habitats. This species is strongly migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, wintering south to southeast Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, principally in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and neighbouring countries. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
It nests in trees, laying 3-5 egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s in an untidy but neatly lined nest. Migrating birds and wintering birds often form small flocks. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, especially mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es, earthworm
Earthworm
Earthworm is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, even though the internal male segments are anterior to the female...
s and berries.
This is a medium-sized but stocky thrush, reminiscent in structure of a small Fieldfare
Fieldfare
The Fieldfare is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in Great Britain and Ireland, but winters in large numbers in these...
. The underwing is reddish brown, and there is a pale supercilium.
Naumann's Thrush has pale brown back and head. The face, breast, flank spots and rump are reddish, and the belly and undertail are white, whereas Dusky Thrush has a darker brown back and rump, and the face, breast, and flank spots rump are black. The belly and undertail are white.
The female is fairly similar to the male, but immatures have a weaker patterning.
The song of Naumann's Thrush may differ from the simple fluted or whistling Redwing
Redwing
The Redwing is a bird in the thrush family Turdidae, native to Europe and Asia, slightly smaller than the related Song Thrush.-Taxonomy:...
-like song of Dusky Thrush.
The scientific and English names of this bird commemorate the German naturalist Johann Andreas Naumann
Johann Andreas Naumann
Johann Andreas Naumann was a German farmer and an amateur naturalist. He was the father of Johann Friedrich Naumann.Naumann wrote an important book on the birds of Germany, Naturgeschichte der Vögel Deutschlands ....
.