Borneo thrush

Borneo thrush

Mountain blackbird, Luhui tana

SUBSPECIES OF

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Turdus poliocephalus seebohmi

The Borneo thrush (Turdus poliocephalus seebohmi ), also known as the mountain blackbird or locally in Dusun as Luhui tana, is a bird in the thrush family. It is a subspecies of the island thrush (Turdus poliocephalus ) endemic to the island of Borneo.

Appearance

The Borneo thrush is mainly dark brown in colour. The flanks, lower breast and belly are rufous, with a white vent. It is about 23 cm in length. Its bill, eye-ring and legs are deep yellow. Males and females are similar in size and appearance.

Distribution

Geography

The subspecies is found only on the higher levels of Mount Kinabalu (4095 m), normally from about 2100 m asl upwards to the limits of vegetation, as well as around the summits of Mount Trus Madi (2642 m) and Mount Tambuyukon (2579 m), all of which lie in the state of Sabah, Malaysia. The habitat ranges from cold, wet and mossy montane forest up to, on Kinabalu, almost bare rock at about 3200 m asl.

Diet and Nutrition

The birds forage through the forest in the trees and on the ground. The diet is largely vegetarian, mainly fruit and berries, though insects are also taken.

Mating Habits

The nest is described as being a substantial structure, made of woven plant material and lined with grass, 15 cm across by 10 cm deep. It is built a few metres above the ground in a fork or the branches of the low trees found at the altitude at which it lives. The normal clutch is a single egg. Nests with eggs or chicks have been recorded in February and March, suggesting a restricted breeding season.

References

1. Borneo thrush Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo_thrush

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