Photo: Henry Koh / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-backed Thrush
Turdus kessleri
White-backed Thrush (Turdus kessleri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-backed Thrush (Turdus kessleri) is a member of the Turdidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 76.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Turdidae Thrushes
- Genus Turdus
- Species kessleri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 76.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Turdidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-backed Thrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The White-backed Thrush is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-backed Thrush (Turdus kessleri) belongs to the Turdidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR w China to se Tibet.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 76.3 g, with a wing length of about 15 cm and a tail of around 12.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-backed Thrush?
The White-backed Thrush is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 76.3 g.
Where does the White-backed Thrush live?
The White-backed Thrush is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR w China to se Tibet, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-backed Thrush belong to?
The White-backed Thrush (Turdus kessleri) belongs to the Turdidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-backed Thrush eat?
The White-backed Thrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-backed Thrush migrate?
The White-backed Thrush is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-backed 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 White-backed Thrush make?
1 real field recording of the White-backed Thrush — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-backed Thrush's range?
The White-backed Thrush has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².
Conservation
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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