Birds in Taiwan

Endemic Species

Collared Bush-Robin

Flamecrest

Formosan Magpie

Formosan Whistling-Thrush

Mikado Pheasant

Steere's Liocichla

Styan's Bulbul

Swinhoe's Pheasant

Taiwan Barwing

Taiwan Bush-Warbler

Taiwan Partridge

Taiwan Yuhina

White-eared Sibia

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Yellow Tit

Endemic Sub-Species

Alpine Accentor

Black-browed Barbet

Black-naped Monarch

Black Bulbul

Black Drongo

Vinaceous Rosefinch

White-browed Shortwing

More Birds in Taiwan

Black-faced Spoonbill

Black-naped Oriole

Black-throated Tit

Black-winged Stilt

Chinese Crested Tern

Common Kingfisher

Common Moorhen

Daurian Redstart

Fairy Pitta

Gray-chinned Minivet

Gray-faced Buzzard

Island Thrush

Turdus poliocephalus niveiceps

Endemic Subspecies

The male of this medium sized thrush (22 cm) is striking with its blackish back and contrasting white hood, separated from dark orange underparts by a diffuse blackish upper breast.  Its iris is dark brown and its bill, legs and feet are yellow.  The female is similarly patterned but duller, with a grayish brown head bearing a white streak behind the eye, a buffy throat and upper breast finely streaked with brown, a brown back and duller orange underparts.

The Island Thrush is a highly variable species with many distinct subspecies found throughout the islands of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and the archipelagos of Melanesia and Polynesia.  The Taiwan race niveiceps is the most northerly occurring subspecies, and the one with the greatest distinction between the sexes.  It is considered a good candidate for future reclassification as a distinct species.  The Island Thrush feeds on worms, snails, slugs, insects and spiders, and also on small fruits, berries and seeds.  It often forages on the ground in leaf litter, but also in low vegetation and in trees.  In Taiwan the Island Thrush is a rare resident of high mountain forests in the centre of the island, at elevations of 1800-2500 m.

Reference:  Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 10