The Austral Thrush, Turdus falcklandii, is a medium sized thrush from southern South America.

Overview

Species description

There are two subspecies, the Falkland Thrush (T. f. falcklandii) from the Falkland Islands and the Magellan Thrush (T. f. magellanicus) from south Argentina and south and central Chile. The Austral Thrush is similar to the European Blackbird also of the genus Turdus, with a yellow bill and feet, a dark brown head, back and wings and a lighter underside. In T. f. falcklandii the underside tends towards ochre, but the smaller T. f. magellanicus is more olive below. The throat of both subspecies is streaked.

In Chile and Argentina the Austral Thrush lives in a variety of habitats from Nothofagus forests to agricultural lands and even gardens. On the Falkland Islands it makes use of human altered habitat as well but is most numerous in tussac grasses near beaches.