The Chinese blackbird (Turdus mandarinus) is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It was formerly considered conspecific with the related common blackbird (T. merula).

Chinese blackbird
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Species:
T. mandarinus
Binomial name
Turdus mandarinus
Bonaparte, 1850
Synonyms

Turdus maximus mandarinus

Subspecies edit

  • The Chinese blackbird (T. m. mandarinus) breeds throughout much of southern, central and eastern China.[2] It is a partial migrant to Hong Kong and south to Laos and Vietnam. The male is sooty black, and the female is similar but browner, and paler on the underparts.[3] It is a large subspecies.[4]
  • Sowerby's blackbird (T. m. sowerbyi), named for James Sowerby, British naturalist and illustrator, breeds from eastern Sichuan to Guizhou. It is partially migratory, with some individuals spending the winter in southern China and northern Indochina. It resembles mandarinus, but is smaller and darker below.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Turdus mandarinus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. IUCN: e.T103888237A104198735. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103888237A104198735.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  2. ^ MacKinnon, J., & Phillipps, K. (2000). A Field Guide to the Birds of China. Oxford University Press. Oxford. ISBN 0-19-854940-7
  3. ^ Robson, Craig (2004). A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand. New Holland Press. ISBN 1-84330-921-1. p228
  4. ^ a b Collar, N. J. (2005). Common Blackbird (Turdus merula). p. 645 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Christie, D. A. eds. (2005) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 10. Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-72-5