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Photo: derivative work: JerryFriedman (talk) Olive_Thrush_(Turdus_olivaceus)_on_lawn.jpg: Monkey Boy from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Karoo Thrush

Turdus smithi

Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.

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The Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithi) is a member of the Turdidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 77.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Turdidae Thrushes
  4. Genus Turdus
  5. Species smithi

Where it lives

Southern Namibia, southeastern Botswana and northern South Africa

Quick facts

Weight
77.8 g
Diet
Omnivores
Family
Turdidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Karoo Thrush is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Karoo Thrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithi) belongs to the Turdidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Namibia, se Botswana and n South Africa.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 77.8 g, with a wing length of about 12.2 cm and a tail of around 9.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 745,000 km².

Songs & calls

Karoo Thrush — Song

Recorded by JJSUN Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Karoo Thrush?

The Karoo Thrush is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 77.8 g.

Where does the Karoo Thrush live?

The Karoo Thrush is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Namibia, se Botswana and n South Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Karoo Thrush belong to?

The Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithi) belongs to the Turdidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Karoo Thrush eat?

The Karoo Thrush is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Karoo Thrush migrate?

The Karoo Thrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Karoo Thrush endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Karoo Thrush make?

1 real field recording of the Karoo Thrush — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Karoo Thrush's range?

The Karoo Thrush has a mapped global range of about 745,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

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