Zoothera sp. Eastern New South Wales, 24 Sept 2022 (1 Viewer)

[MKinHK]

I'd welcome any advice on the ID of this thrush sp. taken in atrocious light north of Sydney last week. The two potential species are Red-tailed and Bassian, with the latter being more likely on range. But since both species occur within 20km and there is contiguous habitat and exceptionally wet weather over the last two years that may have cause range to expand or shrink I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to identify these two species on visible field characteristics.

The best field guide for Australia - Menkhorst et al. suggest the shape of the median coverts is diagnostic, with red-tailed showing broader pale tips than Bassian. So given that Bassian is the species expected to occur on range is there anyway that this individual can be confidently ascribed to either species?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts that are NOT based on identification by range.

Cheers
Mike

 

[sicklebill]

I can see no reddish tail, but the pic is underexposed, I would favour Bassian.

 

[MKinHK]

Thanks Sicklebill