Considered a secretive bird, the Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata) is found foraging among dense vegetation. A mostly insectivorous thrush, it also enjoys worms and other invertebrates.
The plumage of the Bassian Thrush is mottled brown to olive-brown, with distinct black scalloped pattern across its body, in the shape of crescent bars. The paler underparts show off the scalloping pattern more distinctively. This patterning on the plumage aids in concealing the presence of the thrush. They also have a white eye-ring and when in flight there is a broad dark bar across the white underside of its wings.
Common name
Olive-tailed Thrush, White’s Thrush, Ground Thrush and Scaly Thrush.
The Bassian Thrush are found from northern Queensland to south-eastern Australia, as well as Tasmania, Kangaroo Island and some of the other larger islands of Bass Strait.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Turdidae
- Genus: Zoothera
- Species: Z. lunulata
- Binomial name: Zoothera lunulata
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