Abyssinian ground thrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abyssinian ground thrush |
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The Abyssinian ground thrush (Geokichla piaggiae) is a cool bird that lives in the high mountains of north-east Africa. It's a type of thrush, which is a family of birds known for their beautiful songs. This bird's scientific name honors an Italian explorer named Carlo Piaggia who explored East Africa a long time ago.
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About the Abyssinian Ground Thrush
The Abyssinian ground thrush is a pretty bird, but it likes to stay hidden. Adult birds have a deep reddish-orange color on their head and face. They also have a clear white ring around their eyes. This orange color becomes a bit lighter on their chest and sides. Their upper body is olive-brown, but their rump and tail are orange-brown. When their wings are folded, you can see two bright white stripes. Young birds are usually paler and not as brightly colored as the adults. These birds are about 19 to 20 centimeters (7.5 to 7.9 inches) long. They weigh between 43 and 65 grams (1.5 to 2.3 ounces).
What Does It Sound Like?
The Abyssinian ground thrush has a high-pitched "tseep" sound it uses to communicate. Its song is like a typical thrush song: a lovely series of whistles. It sounds like "chee-cheeleeroo-chruup."
Where Do They Live?
There are six different types, or subspecies, of the Abyssinian ground thrush. They live in various parts of north-east Africa:
- Geokichla piaggiae hadii: Found in South Sudan, specifically in the Imatong Mountains and Dongotona Mountains.
- Geokichla piaggiae piaggiae: Lives in eastern South Sudan (in the Boma Plateau), Ethiopia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and northern and western Kenya.
- Geokichla piaggiae ruwenzorii: Found in the Ruwenzori Mountains in western Uganda.
- Geokichla piaggiae tanganjicae: Lives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southwestern Uganda, Rwanda, and northern Burundi.
- Geokichla piaggiae kilimensis: Found in central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
- Geokichla piaggiae rowei: Lives in northern Tanzania.
Their Home Environment
The Abyssinian ground thrush lives in the thick undergrowth of evergreen mountain forests. These are places that get a lot of rain. They usually live at high altitudes, between 1,800 and 3,300 meters (5,900 and 10,800 feet) above sea level. Most often, you'll find them above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). Sometimes, they can be found lower down. They might also live in bamboo forests, like on Mount Kenya. In Ethiopia, they can even be found in pine tree farms.
Daily Life of the Thrush
The Abyssinian ground thrush is a shy bird that likes to be alone. It looks for food on the ground. It hops, runs, or walks under trees or thick plants. It might also feed higher up in bushes or trees that have fruit. You can often find it near forest streams, in areas covered with moss and lichen. It might also be seen at the edges of clearings or paths. If it senses danger, it quickly hides in the plants.
Its main food sources are earthworms, millipedes, snails, and insects. It searches for these in the fallen leaves on the forest floor. It will also follow groups of ants and catch small creatures trying to escape the ants. Besides insects, it eats fruits like figs, berries, and some seeds.
Abyssinian ground thrushes lay their eggs during the rainy season. The timing of this season changes depending on where they live. Their nest is shaped like a cup. It's made of moss or other plant material and lined with soft plant fibers. The nest is usually hidden in the fork of a branch or a young tree, less than 5 meters (16 feet) off the ground. They usually lay two eggs. Both parents feed the young birds. After the young birds learn to fly, they stay with their parents for up to three months.
How Scientists Classify Them
Over time, scientists have changed how they classify this thrush. It was first placed in the Turdus group, then Zoothera, and now it's in the Geokichla group. This happens as scientists learn more about birds and how they are related. Also, some scientists used to think that two of the subspecies, G.p. tanganjicae and G.p kilimensis, were separate species. However, they don't sound or look very different from the other types. So, most experts now agree they are all part of the Abyssinian ground thrush species.
