- Taita Thrush
Taxobox
name = Taita Thrush
status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Turdidae
genus = "Turdus "
species = "T. helleri"
binomial = "Turdus helleri"
binomial_authority = Mearns, 1913The Taita Thrush ("Turdus helleri"), also known as Taita Olive Thrush or Heller's Ground Thrush, is a critically endangered bird from the family of thrushes (Turdidae), endemic to theTaita Hills inKenya .Description
The Taita Thrush was previously classified as subspecies of the
Olive Thrush ("Turdus olivaceus"), but it is regarded as distinct species since 1985. It reaches a length between 20 to 22 centimetres. Head, breast and upperparts are coloured darkly. The underparts are white and the flanks have a rufous hue. The eyes and the bill exhibit a pale orange coloration. It was named after zoologistEdmund Heller (1875 -1939) a workmate of the American ornithologistEdgar Alexander Mearns (1856 - 1916) who described this species scientifically in 1913.Distribution
The Taita Thrush is restricted to four severely fragmented forest parcels in the Taita Hills in Kenya. These are Mbololo with circa 200 ha, Ngangao with circa 92 ha, Chawia with circa 50 ha and Yale with 2 ha.
Ecology
It is restricted to montane moist forests. Though its natural habitat where it is occurred was severely logged in the past it is avoided forests with secondary growth, shrub vegetation, and cultivated areas. Despite of extensive research only a very few migrations were determined between the fragmented populations.
External links
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=6384&m=0 Birdlife factsheet - Turdus helleri] (Engl.)
* [http://webhost.ua.ac.be/deco/uploads/files/THBP_final_report.pdf Taita-Hills Biodiversity Project Report] (pdf., Engl.)
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/images/stamps/details/kenya/0305255.jpgTaita thrush illustrated on a stamp]
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