Asian thrush

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Asian thrush

Asian thrushes are medium-sized birds in the thrush family. They are mostly insectivorous or omnivorous and belong to the genus Zoothera.

Taxonomy and name
The genus Zoothera was introduced in 1832 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Vigors to include the long-billed thrush, Zoothera monticola, which became the type species. The name comes from Greek words meaning “animal” (zoon) and “hunter” (thēra).

Relation to Geokichla
Some species once placed in Zoothera are now in other genera. Two New World species traditionally regarded as Zoothera—Varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius) and Aztec thrush (Ridgwayia pinicola)—belong to different groups. The Siberian thrush and some African species are now placed in the genus Geokichla.

Species (22)
The genus contains 22 species, including:
- Long-tailed thrush
- Alpine thrush
- Himalayan thrush
- Sichuan thrush
- Long-billed thrush
- Geomalia
- Dark-sided thrush
- Everett's thrush
- Sunda thrush
- White's thrush
- Scaly thrush
- Nilgiri thrush
- Sri Lanka thrush
- Amami thrush
- Bonin thrush (extinct)
- Guadalcanal thrush
- Makira thrush
- Russet-tailed thrush
- Fawn-breasted thrush
- Bassian thrush
- Bougainville thrush
- New Britain thrush

Overview
Asian thrushes are a diverse group of Zoothera thrushes found mainly in Asia. They share a diet of insects and fruit and are related to other thrushes in the Turdidae family.