Birds of Mongolia

ID Adult male is uniform medium grey above and white (obscurely streaked) below, with black face, throat and upper breast. In flight, shows rufous underwing-coverts. Adult female is less well marked on head and breast. 1st-winter birds have distinct streaking on breast and flanks. Voice Song is a series of short, fluty, rambling phrases, churee-weeoo, etc., interspersed with squeaky notes, said to be harsher than that of Red-throated, with more frequent pauses. Typical Turdus calls include a harsh chack and thin seep. Habitat Breeds in mixed forest in taiga and shrubby montane woodlands. Occurs in steppe and desert on migration. Behaviour Builds mud-lined nest in trees or on ground. Wintering birds survive on fruits such as Sea Buckthorn. Status Uncommon to rare, with restricted breeding range from Great Lakes Depression and Mongol-Altai range east to Hövsgöl and Khangai ranges. Migrates throughout rest of the country and, depending on temperature and snow cover, may remain in winter, especially in parks and gardens in towns and cities. Present late April to late September and sometimes in winter. Taxonomy Formerly considered conspecific with Red-throated Thrush.

ID Adult male is uniform medium grey above and white (obscurely streaked) below, with bright rufous face, throat and upper breast. In flight, shows rufous underwing-coverts. Also differs from Black-throated in having rufous tail. Adult female is less colourful on head and breast. 1st-winter birds have distinct streaking on breast and flanks. Voice Song is a series of short, fluty, rambling phrases, churee-weeoo, etc., interspersed with squeaky notes. Typical Turdus calls include a harsh chack and thin seep. Habitat Breeds in mixed forest in taiga and shrubby montane woodlands. Occurs in steppe and desert on migration. Behaviour Builds mud-lined nest in trees or on ground. Wintering birds survive on fruits such as Sea Buckthorn. Status Fairly common breeding visitor in all major mountain ranges across northern Mongolia. Migrates throughout rest of the country and, depending on temperature and snow cover, may remain in winter, especially in parks and gardens in towns and cities. Present late April to late September and sometimes in winter. Taxonomy Formerly considered conspecific with Black-throated Thrush.

ID Complex, variegated plumage, unlikely to be confused with other Mongolian thrushes, boldly patterned in black and white on head and underparts (replacing rufous markings of Naumann’s Thrush), with extensive reddish-brown on upperwings. Voice Song is a mellow, clear, descending warble, with a twittering flourish at the end. Calls include a harsh chak and Common Starling-like skiiiir. Habitat Breeds in mixed open taiga forest with some combination of larch, pine, willow, poplar and birch; also occurs in steppe and desert on migration. Behaviour Shy and wary, feeding mainly on ground and in fruiting trees. Flocks with other thrush species during migration. Status Generally nests north of Naumann’s Thrush as far as Siberian tundra line; it may nest in montane forests of Khangai and Hentii ranges, but there are no documented breeding records. Present late April to mid-September. Taxonomy Formerly considered conspecific with Naumann’s Thrush.

ID Complex, variegated plumage pattern, with heavy bright rufous spotting below, rufous tail and grey-brown upperparts. Dusky Thrush is boldly patterned in black and white on head and underparts, this essentially replacing the rufous markings of Naumann’s. Intermediate plumages occur in broad zone where the two species overlap. Voice Song is a mellow, clear, descending warble, with a twittering flourish at the end. Calls include a harsh chak and Common Starling-like skiiiir. Habitat Breeds in mixed open taiga forest with some combination of larch, pine, willow, poplar and birch; also occurs in steppe and desert on migration. Behaviour Shy and wary, feeding mainly on ground and in fruiting trees. Flocks with other thrush species during migration. Status More southerly distribution than Dusky Thrush, nesting mainly in southern Siberia. Rare and local breeding visitor to Zelter River valley, Selenge province, and uncommon migrant throughout rest of country. Present late April to mid-September. Taxonomy Formerly considered conspecific with Dusky Thrush.

ID No other Mongolian thrush combines largely grey upperparts with contrasting dark brown back and blackish tail and heavily streaked and spotted underparts with tawny wash on breast. Sexes and ages similar. 1st-winter is duller, with paler orange breast. Voice Song is an unmelodious dry warbling with squeaking and chuckling phrases. Calls include a soft, peevish clucking chuckle, chuck-chuck-chuck; also a harsh, rattling alarm call. Habitat Nests at margins of a variety of forest types in mountains and river valleys. Inhabits brushy steppe and desert as well as parks and gardens with fruiting trees at lower elevations outside breeding season. Behaviour Feeds readily in open; not especially shy. Status Uncommon breeding visitor in northern Uvs Depression and Orkhon-Selenge River Basin. On migration, occurs widely in areas with fruiting trees including Gobi-Altai range. Uncommon to rare winter visitor, depending on severity of weather, in central and western Mongolia, often entering cities and towns to feed on ornamental fruit trees. Migrant population present late April to late September.

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THRUSHES II

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