From Opus

Alternative name: Orange-headed Ground-Thrush

Zoothera citrina

Photo by jaray
A male race innotata photographed in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

Includes the White-headed Ground Thrush (Zoothera albogularis); not to be confused with the White-throated Thrush from the Americas.

[edit] Identification

Total length 20-23 cm (8-9 in). Males of this small thrush have uniform grey upperparts and orange head and underparts. Females and sub-adults have olive-brown upperparts and tail. The racial variation is striking (see taxonomy), especially in the presence/absence of a white wing-bar and the facial features. Some races have a uniform orange head, some have a slightly duller throat and face with two vertical dark lines (one below the eye and a second on the auriculars), while other have a white face and throat with or without two vertical dark facial lines. Juveniles of all races have dark facial lines and duller upperparts and underparts with some streaking/mottling.

Photo by anonymous_guy
A female race melli photographed on Lamma Island, Hong Kong.

[edit] Distribution

India, China, mainland southeast Asia, northern Borneo, Java and Bali.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Orange-headed Thrush (Zoothera citrina) is a member of the thrush family, Turdidae. It has been suggested that some taxa should be considered separate species. Especially albogularis and andamanensis (from the Nicobar and Andaman Islands), the only white-faced and -throated taxa with faint or no vertical dark facial lines, are regularly considered a separate species; the White-throated Ground Thrush (Z. albogularis with race andamanensis). Other separations have been suggested, but the variation is confusing with similar-looking races often found far from each other.

[edit] Habitat

Found in forest, plantations and secondary growth with some thickets.

[edit] Behaviour

Like most Zoothera thrushes it can be quite secretive. At least partially crepuscular. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms and fruit. They nest in trees. They do not form flocks.

Photo by Pradyumna Mohan
A male race cyanota photographed in Karnataka, India.

[edit] External Links