Tickell's thrush

Tickell's thrush (Turdus unicolor) is a passerine bird in the thrush family Turdidae. It is common in open forest in the Himalayas, and migrates seasonally into peninsular India, Nepal and rarely to Bangladesh.

The name commemorates the British ornithologist Samuel Tickell who collected in India and Burma.

Characteristics
Males of the Tickell's thrush have uniform blue-grey upperparts, a whitish belly and vent. Adults have yellow beak and legs while it may be darker in juveniles. There is a yellow eye-ring which is thinner and fainter than the Indian black bird which is usually bigger in size. Females and young birds have browner upperparts.

Nesting
Tickell's thrush build nests from April to June, many materials are used in nest building but the primary component is dried grass.

Distribution and habitat
The Tickell's thrush is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms and berries. It nests in bushes. It does not form flocks, but loose groups of two to five.

Populations move further south in India and Nepal in winter.