Scaly-breasted thrasher facts for kids
The scaly-breasted thrasher (Allenia fusca) is a type of bird that belongs to the Mimidae family. You can find this bird across many islands in the Lesser Antilles, which are located in the Caribbean Sea.
Quick facts for kids Scaly-breasted thrasher |
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| in Coulibistrie, Dominica. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allenia
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| Species: |
fusca
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| Synonyms | |
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Margarops fuscus |
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Contents
About the Scaly-breasted Thrasher
The scaly-breasted thrasher is about 23 centimeters (9 inches) long. It weighs between 53 and 98 grams (1.9 to 3.5 ounces). On average, it weighs about 67 grams (2.4 ounces).
This bird has a short, slightly curved beak. Because of its shape, it looks a bit like a thrush. Adult thrashers have a dark gray-brown head and upper body. Their lower back has a reddish tint. Their tail is a darker brownish-black, and the outer feathers have white tips. When its wings are folded, you can see a single white bar.
The bird's chin and throat are whitish with brown streaks. Its belly is whitish, but its chest and sides have bold gray-brown marks. These marks make it look like it has scales, which is how it got its name!
Different Types of Scaly-breasted Thrashers
There are five slightly different types, or subspecies, of the scaly-breasted thrasher. They mostly differ in their size and how dark their upper feathers are.
- A. f. hypenema is the biggest and has lighter colors.
- A. f. schwartzi is a medium-sized bird with more white on its tail.
- A. f. vincenti is the smallest and has darker colors overall.
- A. f. atlantica has more reddish-brown feathers on its upper body and less white on its tail compared to the main type.
- A. f. fusca is the main type of scaly-breasted thrasher.
Where They Live
Scaly-breasted thrashers live in different parts of the Lesser Antilles.
- A. f. hypenema lives in the northern Lesser Antilles. This includes islands like Saint Martin, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, and Guadeloupe. It might no longer be found on Sint Eustatius and Barbuda.
- A. f. vincenti is found on Saint Vincent. Sometimes, it visits the Grenadines.
- A. f. atlantica lives on Barbados, but it might be extinct there now.
- A. f. schwartzi lives on Saint Lucia.
- A. f. fusca lives on Dominica, Grenada, and Martinique.
These birds mostly live in forests and open woodlands. You can also find them near places where people live.
What They Eat
The scaly-breasted thrasher finds its food in trees. Depending on the island, it might hunt for food low down in bushes or high up in the treetops. It eats both plants and animals. Its diet includes insects and other small creatures, as well as fruits and berries. It seems to eat more plant-based foods than other types of thrashers.
How They Reproduce
Scaly-breasted thrashers usually build their nests and lay eggs in May and June. They make a cup-shaped nest in a bush or a tree. A female thrasher typically lays two or three eggs at a time.
Their Song
The song of the scaly-breasted thrasher is a series of different notes and phrases. It sounds similar to the songs of mockingbirds, but it is softer and slower.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has decided that the scaly-breasted thrasher is a species of "Least Concern." This means that its population is stable and not currently at risk of disappearing. It is quite common in most places where it lives, though it is rare on the island of Grenada.
Images for kids
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Scaly-breasted thrasher in Coulibistrie, Dominica.
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Range map of the Scaly-breasted Thrasher.
