Red-backed thrush


The red-backed thrush or rusty-backed thrush is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. Traditionally, it included the red-and-black thrush as a subspecies. It is endemic to forests on Sulawesi and the nearby islands of Buton and Kabaena in Indonesia. It is becoming rare due to habitat destruction.

Taxonomy

Geokichla erythronota is very similar in morphology to the chestnut-backed thrush and some authorities believe they are conspecific. Others believe they are distinct. A subspecies has been named from Kabaena and some researchers believe there is an unnamed race of G. erythronota on the island of Buton, the status of which needs to be evaluated.

Description

The red-backed thrush is about long and the sexes are largely similar in appearance.