Dusky Thrush Bird Facts (Turdus eunomus)

The Dusky Thrush is a medium-sized bird with distinctive plumage. Its upperparts are dark brown, contrasting with a white eyebrow and black-streaked white underparts. The sides of the breast and flanks are marked with bold black crescents.

Both sexes have similar plumage, though females may be slightly duller. Juveniles are browner overall with less distinct markings. In winter, adults develop buff-tipped feathers, giving them a slightly scaly appearance.

The Dusky Thrush can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Dusky Thrush can be found in Grassland habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Dusky Thrush can be found in Tundra habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Dusky Thrush is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Dusky Thrushes breed in the taiga and tundra regions of eastern Siberia. Their summer habitat includes open coniferous forests, forest edges, and scrubland near water bodies. During winter, they migrate to eastern and southeastern Asia.

In their wintering grounds, they inhabit various habitats, including woodlands, orchards, and agricultural areas. Rare vagrants occasionally appear in western Europe, including the UK, typically during autumn migration.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Dusky Thrush. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Pakistan Russia

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Bangladesh Bhutan China Hong Kong India Japan Myanmar Nepal Taiwan Thailand Vietnam

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Dusky Thrush demonstrates considerable agility in its ground-foraging behaviour, hopping and running in short bursts. Its ability to navigate through varied habitats from sea level to 3000 metres elevation also suggests good manoeuvrability.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a medium-sized thrush, it possesses moderate strength. Its ability to fly at speeds up to 50 km/h during migration indicates decent muscular power, though it's not exceptionally strong compared to larger bird species.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

The Dusky Thrush shows high adaptability, inhabiting diverse environments from taiga and tundra to woodlands and agricultural areas. Its ability to adjust its diet seasonally and survive in various climate zones from subarctic to subtropical demonstrates remarkable adaptability.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While the Dusky Thrush can be territorial during breeding season and has alarm calls, it's generally not known for aggressive behaviour. They often form mixed feeding flocks with other thrush species, suggesting a relatively peaceful nature.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Dusky Thrush's long-distance migration, with some individuals travelling over 5,000 km annually, indicates impressive endurance. Their ability to thrive across a wide elevation range and diverse habitats further supports their high endurance rating.

The Dusky Thrush primarily feeds on invertebrates, including earthworms, insects, and their larvae. During autumn and winter, it supplements its diet with various berries and fruits. They often forage by probing the ground with their beaks, turning over leaves to find hidden prey.

Dusky Thrushes are often seen foraging on the ground, hopping and running in short bursts while searching for food. During the non-breeding season, they are generally solitary or found in small groups. When alarmed, they often perch upright on exposed branches, bobbing their tails and giving sharp alarm calls.

The Dusky Thrush has a varied vocal repertoire. Its song is a series of flute-like whistles and warbles, often delivered from a high perch. The alarm call is a sharp, harsh 'chack' or 'tuk-tuk-tuk'.

During migration, they frequently give a soft, plaintive 'seep' call, helping to maintain contact within flocks.

Breeding occurs from late May to July in their Siberian range. Males establish territories and attract females with melodious songs. Pairs form for the breeding season.

Nests are typically built in trees or shrubs, constructed of twigs, grass, and moss, lined with finer materials. Females lay 4-5 pale blue eggs with reddish-brown spots.

Incubation lasts about 13-14 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after approximately 13-15 days. Fledglings remain dependent on their parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.

The Dusky Thrush typically lives for 5 to 10 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While the Dusky Thrush is currently listed as Least Concern, habitat loss in its breeding and wintering grounds poses a potential threat. Climate change may also affect its migration patterns and breeding success. Ongoing monitoring is crucial to detect any population changes.

Look for Dusky Thrushes in open woodlands or at forest edges
Listen for their distinctive 'chack-chack' call, especially during migration
Observe ground-feeding behaviour in fields or grassy areas
In the UK, check coastal areas during autumn migration for rare sightings

Main predators include birds of prey such as hawks and falcons, as well as small carnivorous mammals like martens and foxes. Nest predators may include corvids and squirrels.

Dusky Thrushes can fly at speeds of up to 50 km/h during migration.
They have been known to form mixed feeding flocks with other thrush species in winter.
Some individuals have been recorded travelling over 5,000 km during their annual migration.

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Bird Attributes Explained

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Understanding the Ratings:

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Aggressiveness

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Vocalisation

Nesting & Breeding

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