Groundscraper Thrush Psophocichla litsipsirupa
South Africa, March 2007

Blessed with one of the most melodious sounding specific descriptors in ornithology (the onomatopoeic litsitsirupa) the Groundscraper Thrush is an African endemic found in eastern and southern Africa from Eritrea south to the Cape.

Despite looking superficially like a European Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus, this is a peculiarly short-tailed and very upright thrush, and only about the size of a Song Thrush Turdus philomelos at around 22cm (8.75 inches). A common species particularly found in open country and the edges of acacia woodland, this individual was photographed north of Pretoria and was the first I’d seen for a while as it is not found in the grasslands typical of the highveld around Johannesburg where I normally go birding.

 

 

 

 

 

The taxonomic status of the Groundscaper Thrush is a subject of some discussion (amongst people who discuss these things anyway): currently in the montoypic genus Psophocichla, the species has similarities to Zoothera thrushes but lacks their banded underwings, and the resemblence to Turdus species is said to be due to convergence rather than a direct relationship. No doubt there is a DNA study underway (or already completed but not in Google’s huge database yet) - if anyone knows and would care to tell me I’d be delighted!

All photos copyright Charlie Moores