Ashy Ground Thrush

Description:

The Ashy Ground Thrush, Zoothera cinerea, is an uncommon medium-sized passerine that is found only in northern and central Luzon and on the island of Mindoro, Philippines. The Philippine field guide describes it as a “shy and hard to see” bird recorded in 300 meters lowland forest up to mid-elevation montane forests of 1500 m. There is very little known information for this Philippine endemic as it has been reported to the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines’ Bird Records Committee only 56 times from 2004 to 2009 and was recorded only in 7 sites. It has been recorded regularly only in Mt. Makiling. It is usually seen only at first light on the forest trail as foot and vehicular traffic easily spooks the bird, causing it to retreat to the dark forest undergrowth. There is no breeding information, except for a possible post-breeding dispersal as 130 individuals have been mist-netted and ringed in 7 years at Dalton Pass in Luzon, an important route for migrating birds. (courtesy of Adrian Constantino). During the past 6 months, though, the AGT had been regularly seen and photographed within the La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City. On several occasions, nests where also spotted.