Great Thrush
Turdus fuscater
About This Species
A large, dark thrush common in Andean parks, gardens and forest edge from Colombia south to Argentina, it forages on open ground and lawns for earthworms and insects, often in a hopping, upright stance reminiscent of a large robin. Its clear, warbling song is frequently heard at dawn, especially in high-elevation towns and cities where it has adapted well to human presence. It can be seen year-round and is often one of the most conspicuous birds in Andean urban green spaces.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- It is generally tolerant of people in parks and gardens, but nests, which are often built low in shrubs or on building ledges, should still be left undisturbed rather than approached for a closer look.
- Wildlife protection laws differ across the several Andean countries it inhabits, so specific legal rules should be checked locally.
- As a general practice, observing from a bench or path rather than approaching a foraging bird directly avoids unnecessary disturbance.
LCAvesPasseriformesTurdidae
Seasonal Activity
303,537 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
Photo
(c) brewmaster, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by brewmaster
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.