Don't want to see ads? Sign up...




Turdus sp.

Turdus sp.


Family: Turdidae
Order: Passeriformes
Class: Aves
Phylum / Division: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia

 Request change



Filters


Records from La Caldera

Not considered species


Description


Characterized as a medium-sized passerine lineage, this taxon typically exhibits an overall body length ranging from 20 to 30 centimeters and a body mass varying between 40 and 120 grams. Anatomically, it possesses a stout, slightly decurved bill that grades from bright yellow to dark horn brown, finely adapted for probing ground leaf litter and manipulating fleshy fruits. The plumage showcases considerable interspecific variability: dorsal surfaces frequently present uniform tones of slate gray, olive-brown, or glossy black, whereas the ventral plumage often displays rich rufous, cinnamon, or pale whitish hues, frequently marked with delicate pectoral streaks or arrow-shaped spots. Sturdy, elongated tarsi facilitate terrestrial locomotion, and several representatives possess noticeable bright yellow or orange orbital eye-rings.

Geographical distribution: Occurs across a remarkably broad, nearly cosmopolitan distribution, with native populations established throughout Eurasia, Africa, and the entirety of the Americas, extending from the subarctic tree line of Alaska and northern Canada to southern Patagonia. Additionally, selected representatives of Turdus have been deliberately or accidentally introduced to remote oceanic regions, establishing self-sustaining breeding populations across New Zealand, Australia, and various neighboring oceanic archipelagos.

Habitat: Occupies a comprehensive spectrum of terrestrial biomes, spanning dense boreal conifer forests, temperate deciduous woodlands, tropical montane cloud forests, and lowland rainforest edges. Exhibiting remarkable ecological adaptability, it readily tolerates altered environments, prospering in urban parks, suburban gardens, orchards, hedgerows, and rural farmland mosaics where open turf alternates with mature woody cover.

Feeding: Demonstrates a versatile, opportunistic omnivorous trophic regime characterized by distinct seasonal dietary shifts. During the breeding months, foraging is focused heavily on soil invertebrates, primarily earthworms, ground beetles, caterpillars, and small gastropods extracted via rhythmic bill-probing and leaf-tossing. In the non-breeding season, dietary composition shifts substantially toward frugivory, incorporating a wide spectrum of wild berries, cultivated drupes, and succulent fruits, rendering these birds indispensable agents of seed dispersal across diverse ecosystems.

Behavior: Exhibits diurnal activity patterns and is renowned for producing intricate, flute-like vocalizations that carry across long distances, delivered primarily at dawn and dusk from high song posts to advertise territorial boundaries. Terrestrial locomotion consists of swift runs punctuated by abrupt pauses and vigilant head tilting. While equatorial and subtropical populations are largely sedentary, high-latitude and montane populations exhibit pronounced seasonal migrations, often forming nomadic or loosely aggregated foraging flocks during winter wanderings.

Nesting: Constructs a robust, cup-shaped nest positioned securely in tree forks, dense shrubbery, or sheltered recesses of human-built structures, typically situated between 1 and 5 meters above ground. The foundational outer structure incorporates twigs, coarse grasses, and moss, frequently bound and plastered internally with a distinctive core of wet mud or dung, which is subsequently lined with fine dry grasses. The female lays a clutch of 2 to 6 eggs, typically tinted pale blue, turquoise, or greenish, often speckled with reddish-brown maculations. Incubation lasts approximately 12 to 15 days, with altricial hatchlings remaining under close parental provisioning for about two weeks before fledging.

Conservation status: Encompasses numerous abundant species classified under Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List, owing to expansive ranges, robust demographic numbers, and resilience to anthropogenic landscape modification. Nevertheless, specific localized and island-endemic members of Turdus face severe population declines driven by deforestation, localized habitat fragmentation, and heavy predation by introduced mammalian carnivores.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 29/10/2026




Geographic distribution


Loading map...




Species photographs

Last published photographs



 Add a photography for this sheet






Species vocalizations

Last vocalizations published



 Add an audio for this sheet





Species videos

Last filmings published




 Add a film for this sheet





Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
268780327/04/2019ArgentinaSaltaVaqueros, La Caldera1Facundo Gandoy
Page 1

 Add a record for this sheet

📖
Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Turdus sp. – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 30/10/2026.