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Groundscraper Thrush (Psophocichla litsitsirupa)



Other names:
Afrikaans: Gevlekte Lyster
German: Akaziendrossel
French: Merle litsipsirupa
Portuguese: Tordo-de-peito-malhado
Dutch:

This site has some more info on Groundscraper Thrush.

Dutch: Acacialijster

I had been looking for the Dutch name for ages and then emailed my question to the Dutch Birdlife International partner, 2 or 3 years ago. They gave me the name mentioned above.
I've also submitted their reply to the FitzPatrick Institute a while back (last March, I think) using the online form, but last time I looked their records had not been updated yet.

Satara, August 2008.

Groundscraper Thrush
Turdus litsitsirupa

Description
A bird that is 22-24cm in height. Has an erect posture, quite long legs and a fairly short tail. The upperparts of this bird is a plain grey-brown colour with a chestnut wing band. Where underparts are white with black spots. The underwing is black and white with a pattern that is visible during flight. The bird's face is white with bold black markings. Groundscrapers have a heavy beak. They differ from the spotted ground thrush by not having white bars on its wing coverts and also by having bolder black face markings. Also habitats are very different. It can be distinguished from the dusky lark by being much larger and bolder face markings, along with light grey upperparts.

Females & Juveniles
Juveniles are speckled and fading grey in colour on the underparts, also has white tips on wing coverts. Juveniles also have smaller spots than adults. Both adult sexes are alike in appearance.

Habitat
They occur in all areas north of Bloemfontein and East London. Preferring dry thornveld, parks, gardens and open woodland areas.

Calls
Calls include slow whistling and clicking.

where is the best place to see these birds?

They are often on the grass outside the Satara restaurant, which is probably where Oom got his pic

Batmad, I indeed found this bird on Satara's restaurant's lawn.

But I have seen it often in Pretoria as well. Austin Roberts in Pretoria also seems like a good spot to find them.

Have seen this one near my house.

This one seen in the grounds of Pretoriuskop Camp in March this year.

Large

Bontle Camp, Marakele, last weekend.

Didn't see an entry for one in the KTP, so adding it now:(Oct. 2009 Nossob)

KTP

Where Africat?

I have never seen them there.

Hi BB,
It was at Nossob, hopping around on the ground under the trees. Quite a handsome bird!