Order Passeriformes Genus Colluricincla Higher classification Shrikethrush | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Colluricincla harmonica Rank Species | |
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Similar Shrikethrush, Bird, Black‑faced cuckooshrike, Grey fantail, Rufous whistler | ||
The grey shrikethrush or grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica), formerly commonly known as grey thrush, is one of the best-loved and most distinctive songbirds of Australasia. It is moderately common to common in most parts of Australia, but absent from the driest of the inland deserts. It is also found in New Guinea.
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Taxonomy and systematics
The grey shrikethrush was originally described in the genus Turdus. Alternate names include the brown shrike-thrush, buff-bellied shrike-thrush, grey shrike-flycatcher, northern shrike-thrush and south-western shrike-thrush.
Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized:
Description
Of medium size (about 24 cm or 9.4 in long) and lacking bright colours, the grey shrikethrush—usually just thrush in casual conversation—has an extraordinary gift for ringing melody, unmatched by any other Australasian species save perhaps the two lyrebirds and its northern relative, the sandstone shrikethrush.
Status
The grey shrikethrush is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
