TURDUS.
Young spotted; fine songsters; almost omnivorous ; nest, a cup in bushes, trees, or on ground ; eggs blue or blue green, nearly always spotted or blotched with dark or reddish brown.
Turdus aureus Holandre. WHITE'S THRUSH.
S 9 Above ochreous brown, beneath paler, both above and below with black crescentic spots ; axillaries, basal half white, terminal half black ; near the base of each quill (beginning usually at 3rd primary) is a buff-coloured spot, these combined form on under surface of wing a yellowish band ; tail 14 feathers. Bill brown, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet yellowish brown. Wing 6 9 152-164. Tarsus 35-39. Bill Breeds.—E. Siberia and Japan. Of occasional occurrence in Europe, generally in winter.
Turdus sibiricus sibiricus Pallas.
e Above dark slaty grey, crown darker ; beneath slate grey, middle of abdomen and supercilium white ; on under wing a broad white band, formed by spots on inner webs of quills (except 1st and 2nd primaries). Bill black, paler at base below. Legs and feet light brown. Wing 116-122. Tarsus 30. Culmen 22-25 (H.). 9 Above olive brown, supercilium buff; below white, tinged buff on breast and brown on flanks, each feather tipped olive brown. Bill brown.
Breeds.—C. Siberia. Occurrence in Europe casual, recorded Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, Bulgaria.
Turdus pilaris L. FIELDFARE. Grive litorne ; Ger.
Wachholderdrossel ; I 1€11. Tordelagazzina ; Swed. Iljiirktrast.
? Head, hind neck, rump, and upper tail coverts slaty grey ; back chestnut brown, supercilium white ; beneath, throat, breast and flanks rufous streaked black ; abdomen, under tail coverts, wing coverts, and axillaries white. Bill (winter) horn brown, yellowish at base below, (summer) S yellow, ? yellow with brown tip. Legs and feet black. Wing 8 137-152, ? 132-147. Tarsus 30-34. Bill 15-18.
Preeds.—From north Central Europe (Galicia to Bavaria) north to limit of forest growth, east to Urals and in Siberia.
Not in British Isles. Migrates ; occurs in winter in British Isles and throughout Europe south from S. Scandinavia to Mediterranean, N. Africa (Morocco to Egypt), and in Asia from Asia Minor to N.W. India. Rarer and more irregular in southern parts. Occasional Madeira and Canaries.
Turdus viscivorus viscivorus L. MISTLE THRUSH. Fr. Draine ; Ger. Misteldrossel ; I /al. Tordela ; Seca'. Dubbel-Trast. ? Above brown with dull golden tinge on rump and upper tail coverts ; beneath white, tinged buff and with large black spots ; under wing coverts and axillaries white. Bill dark brown, paler at base below. Legs and feet yellowish brown. Wing j 147-159, ? 145-156. Tarsus 30-34. Bill 16-2o. Young: spotted and streaked with buff on upper parts.
Rrccds.—British Isles, Continental Europe north to about 68° in Norway and Russia, east into W. Siberia, south to Caucasus, N. Italy, Sicily, Spain. Partly resident, except in colder parts of breeding range ; occurs in winter Mediterranean countries, Macedonia, Asia Minor, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco.
T. viscivorus deichleri Erlanger. Bill stronger and longer, 2o-23 ; paler and greyer but not constantly so. Preeds.—Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, north of Atlas.
"T. v. reiscri" Schiebel, described from winter birds in Corsica, and "T. v. jubila2us" Zeidlitz, from S. Russia (Poland to Caucasus) are names given to the same, a greyer, form, which can be matched by birds from France and even England, and apparently breeding birds from S. Spain are similar. Further confirmation is required of this race.
Turdus musicus musicus L. SONG THRUSH. Fr. Grive ; Ger. Singdrossel ; Ital. bottacio ; Swed. Talltrast.
d ? Above olive brown ; centre of throat white, remainder of underparts white with large brown spots and streaks ; a tinge of reddish buff on chest rarely extending to throat, flanks tinged olive ; under wing coverts and axillaries reddish buff; 3rd to 5th primaries emarginate. Bill black brown, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet pale brown. Wing d' 110-120, ? 105-120. Tarsus 30-34. Bill 14-16.
./?reeds.—Europe north to about 68°, south to N. Spain and Mountains of N. Italy ; in Urals south to Lower Ilek River ; also in W. Siberia, Caucasus and N. Persia. Migratory in north. Occurs in winter S. Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt, N.\V. Africa, Madeira, Canaries. In Britain occurs on passage and in winter.
T. musicus clarkei Hartert. Above darker, more russet ; beneath, the reddish buff extends over breast and generally throat as well as flanks ; also is more heavily spotted.
Breeds. —British Isles, Holland. Resident and migratory, occurs France and Spain in winter. Specimens occur in W. Europe and even E. Russia which agree with this race rather than typical form.
T. musicus hebridensis Eagle Clarke. Darker and redder especially on head than "clarkei" ; beneath, spots more copious and intense, flanks very dark, under wing coverts redder. Wing 115-120, III-121. Tarsus 29-32. Bill 15-18. Resident.—Outer Hebrides.
"T. m. brehmi" Zeidlitz, Central Europe (France to Siberia) is not considered separable from typical "musicus." Turdus iliacus L. REDWING. Fr. Mauvis ; Ger. Wein drossel ; Ital. Tordo sassello ; Swed. Rodvinge-Trast.
,s ? Above dark olive brown, supercilium bully yellow ; beneath white with dark streaks ; under wing coverts, axillaries, and flanks chestnut. Bill dark brown, yellowish at base below.
Legs and feet yellowish brown. Wing 113-119, ? 112-121. Tarsus 28-30. Bill 15-17.
Breeds.—N. Europe to tundras, south to Svea in Sweden ; Iceland, Baltic Provinces south to Memel (rare), E. Russia south to Kazan, Ilfa, Orenburg ; and in Siberia east to Yenisei. Migratory ; occurs in winter Britain, Continental Europe south to Mediterranean, N.W. Africa, Madeira, Canaries, Caucasus, and l'ersia.
Turdus obscurus. Gmelin.
Above olive brown, greyish on crown ; lores black, supercilium and patch under eye white ; beneath, chin white, throat slaty grey, breast and flanks pale cinnamon, abdomen and under tail coverts white, under wing coverts and axillaries grey. Bill brown, paler below at base. Legs and feet brown. Wing 123-130. Tarsus 31-33. Culmen 21-23 (H.). Crown like back, throat white, striped grey brown at sides ; under wing coverts tinged buff.
Breeds.—E. Siberia. Occurs as rare visitor to Europe (recorded Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy).
Turdus naumanni Temminck.
,S winter. Above grey brown, generally with some chestnut spots ; rump and upper tail coverts pale chestnut, at times grey and chestnut mixed ; beneath pale chestnut, with small black spots on sides of throat and white tips elsewhere except centre of abdomen and breast, which are white, tail pale chestnut, central pair of feathers and inner webs of others grey brown. Bill brown (in summer yellowish below). Legs and feet brown. 130-140. Tarsus 31-33. Bill 15-16. ? throat paler and throat and breast slightly spotted. Wing about 5 m.m. shorter. In summer back is uniform grey brown, and white tips beneath wear off.
Breeds.—E. Siberia. Of occasional occurrence in C. and S. Europe.
Turdus eunomus Temminck. DUSKY THRUSH. ("T. fuscatus" of authors).
8 winter. Above brown black with smoky edges to feathers ; wing coverts, outer margins and inner webs of quills and under wing coverts chestnut ; supercilium, throat, under tail coverts and middle of abdomen white ; breast and sides black with white edges ; tail dark brown. Bill dark brown. Legs and feet brown. In summer, back, breast and abdomen darker through wearing off of feather edges. Wing 127-137. Tarsus 28-33. Bill 15-16. 9 Browner above, breast and sides also browner. \Ving 121-128.
A Siberian breeding species ; occasionally occurs in Europe ; recorded from most countries.
Turdus ruficollis ruficollis Pallas. RED-THROATED THRUSH.
d Above grey brown, supercilium reddish buff; beneath white ; throat and breast pale chestnut as also under wings and rectrices except central pair. Bill dark brown. Legs and feet brown. Wing 135-141. Tarsus 31-33. Bill 15-18. 9 only traces of chestnut on throat and breast, generally buff with small black spots ; tail as in a ; beneath dull white. Wing 130-135.
Breeds.—E. Siberia. Of rare occurrence in Europe (recorded Holland, France, Germany, Baltic Provinces, Austria, Hungary, Italy).
T. ruficollis atrigularis Temminck. Black-throated Thrush. as in typical form, but black on breast (margined white in winter), tail grey brown, under wing coverts and axillaries pale cinnamon ; crown generally streaked black. 9 resembles typical , but throat more heavily striped and no chestnut on tail. Breeds.—W. Siberia. More frequently occurs in Europe ; reported most countries, rarer in west.
Turdus torquatus torquatus L. RING-OUZEL. Fr. Merle h plastron ; Ger. Ringamsel ; Ital. Merlo con petto Bianco ; Swed. Ring-Trast.
8' summer. Above sooty black ; gorget white, rest of under parts brown black ; quills edged whitish. Bill yellow tipped dark brown. Legs and feet brown. Wing 140-147. Tarsus 30-34. Bill 16-19. In winter, feathers above fringed grey brown, gorget dull white, feathers of underparts fringed dull white. 9 summer. Browner than 8', gorget duller white, most feathers above and below retain part of winter edging. Wing In winter, fringes of feathers above and below broader than in 8, gorget much less conspicuous.
Breeds.—British Isles, Norway to about 70°, Sweden, Finland (rare). Occurs on passage through Europe, chiefly west, rare in Russia ; winters S. Europe and N.W. Africa.
T. torquatus alpestris Brehm. d as typical form but more white on wings and broader white margins on underparts at all seasons. 9 as typical form but margins of feathers much broader.
Preeds.—Mountains of C. and S. Europe, from Spain east to Carpathians. Partly resident ; occurs in winter Algeria, Tunisia, Asia Minor.
T. torquatus orientalis (Seebohm). Resembles typical form as regards edgings of body feathers ; white edges to wing feathers more extensive and purer.
Breeds.—Caucasus, N. Persia, Transcaspia. Occasionally occurs Egypt in winter.
Turdus merula merula L. BLACKBIRD. Fr. Merle ; Ger. Amsel ; Pa/. Merlo ; Swed. Kolstrast.
adult. Glossy black, eye-rim and bill orange yellow. Legs and feet brown. \Ving (emarginate 3rd to 6th primaries) g 122-132. 'Tarsus 3o-34. Bill 17-21. 9 Above olive brown ; beneath, throat whitish with dark streaks, or like breast, rufous, abdomen grey brown. Bill dark brown (sometimes partly yellow). Young : like 9, but striped rufous above and with more rufous on underparts.
Breeds.—British Isles, Continental Europe (except S.E.) north to rare in far north, Urals, and colder parts of Central Europe, e.g. Hungary, Poland. Migratory in N. ; occurs Faroes on passage and also N. Mediterranean countries where many winter as well as in N. Africa.
"T. m. hispanus" Kleinschmidt (shorter wing and longer tail) from Spain and "T. m. schiebeli " Tschusi (male more glossy black) from Corsica, are not considered separable.
T. merula eabreroa Hartert. d like typical form but more glossy black ; bill stronger and longer ; wing and tail shorter. \Ving 121-128. Tail too-t to (H.). 9 Above more rufous brown than 9 " merula,"•below throat grey, striped black, breast olive brown. \Ving 115-124. Tail 94-108 (H.).
Resident —Madeira and \V. Canaries.
T. merula azorensis Hartert. Like " cabrerre" but tail still shorter and wing more rounded. \Ving g 117-125, 9 112-122. Tail d 90-102, 9 9o-too (II.).
Resident—Azores.
T. merula mauritanicus Hartert. j Tail longer than in " cabrerm." Wing 126-132. Tail 120-130. y Underparts smoky grey. Bill orange. Wing 118-127. Tail 110-120 (H.).
Breeds.—S. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. Apparently resident.
T. merula algirus (Madarasz). Like " mauritanicus " but smaller. Wing S 119-124, 112-119.
Breeds. — N. Tunis, N. Algeria, N. Morocco, S. Spain (Algeciras). Partly migratory in Spain.
T. merula aterrimus (Madarasz). like typical form, and not distinguishable. Wing 123-134. Tail 105-115. parts duller and greyer than in ? "merula." Wing 118-125. Tail 95-110 (H.).
Breeds. — Rumania, Balkan Peninsula, Crete, Asia Minor, Caucasus, and N. Persia.
T. merula syriaeus Hemprich and Ehrenberg. Bill longer ; black less intense. \Ving 127-131. Tail 115-120 (H.). Q Greyer than ? "merula," throat less distinctly streaked.
B reeds. —Syria and Palestine to E. Persia. Occurs Egypt in winter.