Groundscraper Thrush

The Groundscraper Thrush, known scientifically as Turdus litsitsirupa, is a passerine bird native to the southern and eastern regions of Africa. It is a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, and is recognized as the most basal species within the genus Turdus. This bird is characterized by its erect posture, a length of 22–24 centimeters, a short tail, a robust bill, and relatively long legs. Its upperparts are a nondescript grey-brown, complemented by a chestnut wing-panel, while the underparts are white with conspicuous black spots. The face stands out with its white coloration and bold black markings. Notably, the underwing displays a striking black and white pattern, which becomes apparent during its undulating flight.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Groundscraper Thrush, look for its white underparts with black spots and the distinctive chestnut wing-panel. The face is marked with bold black lines, and the bird's undulating flight reveals a black and white pattern on the underwing. Its heavy bill and long legs are also key features to note.

Habitat

This thrush is known to be quite adaptable, often found foraging in parks, gardens, and around picnic sites, indicating a comfort with human-altered landscapes.

Distribution

The Groundscraper Thrush is distributed across various regions of Africa. The subspecies T. l. litsitsirupa is found from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, extending south to the northern and eastern parts of South Africa. T. l. pauciguttata inhabits southern Angola, northern Namibia, and north-west Botswana, while T. l. stierlingae is located from northern Angola to western Tanzania, Malawi, and north-west Mozambique.

Behaviour

This species can exhibit tameness, allowing for close observation as it forages in human-centric environments such as parks and gardens.

Song & calls

The Groundscraper Thrush has a slow, whistled song that is quite melodious. Additionally, it produces a clicking call. The species name, litsitsirupa, is derived from the Tswana language and is an onomatopoeic representation of the bird's call.

Breeding

The nest of the Groundscraper Thrush is cup-shaped, constructed from vegetation and spider-webs, and lined with feathers or leaves. The female lays a clutch of three to four bluish eggs adorned with lilac and red-brown spots and blotches. These eggs are incubated for a period of 14 to 15 days.

Similar Species

The Ethiopian Thrush (Turdus simensis) has sometimes been considered a subspecies of the Groundscraper Thrush, but it is currently treated as a separate species.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Groundscraper Thrush as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face any significant threats to its survival.