Zoothera on Mussau (1 Viewer)

[dnsallen]

As nothing has been published this may not warrant its own thread but:
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/2015...wildlife-haven-discovered-in-papua-new-guinea

'Manus and Mussau are the northern most islands of Papua New Guinea. Their remote location means their forests, reefs, sea-grass beds and other important resources are largely unexplored.
Despite this pristine environment, both islands have experienced habitat destruction – particularly Mussau, which was heavily logged as recently as the 1990s.
Now a team of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) scientists has discovered that the islands are actually supporting a wealth of animals and plants including many that are thought to be new species.
The researchers will now seek to confirm their findings. Here are some of their discoveries:
...The Zoothera genus of thrushes has long been a source of taxonomic confusion, and in the New Guinea and Australian region four sub-species of the russet-tailed thrush have been recognised, including one on Mussau.
After comparison of the plumage pattern and colouration, body size and behaviour of the Mussau birds, the researchers suggest this individual should be considered a full species.'

 

[Richard Klim]

Presumably Zoothera (heinei) eichhorni (Rothschild & Hartert, 1924).

Collar 2005 (HBW 10)...

eichhorni is smaller still, paler, especially below, with reduced dark scaling, strong whitish bases of primaries

 

[sicklebill]

Yay! We felt this was very distinct back in 1999, along with the Triller of course:

Scaly Thrush Zoothera heinei

Three in old gardens on Louau on 25 May, 3 on Mussau 27 May, one heard 28 May. This is

the Mussau form of Scaly Thrush (Zoothera dauma in Coates 1986:57), now classified as a

subspecies eichhorni of Russet-tailed Thrush Zoothera heinei (Mayr and Diamond 2001).

This species was a real surprise as we found it in old gardens at sea level, on the edge of

secondary woodland and also in glades in this woodland, rather than up in the hills as we had

anticipated. The plumage was a rich olive-brown finely barred with black both above and

below, and the tail and rump could look quite rufous in good light. There were two broken

buffy wing bars on the edges of the greater and median coverts, and a curiously blank facial

pattern. There were two dark ill-defined pectoral patches nearly meeting in the middle of the

chest. The legs were pinkish. The tail pattern showed white corners not extending far up the

sides of the tail, and one bird showed thin buffy tips to the tail at rest. The call was thin, high

pitched rather Blackbird (Turdus merula)-like seep type note. This is an isolated and

rather distinctive race, of uncertain affinities, the Zoothera dauma / heinei group

needing further revision.