Olive Thrush

Turdus olivaceus

Other Names

  Northern Olive Thrush   Merle olivâtre, Merle abyssinien   Kapdrossel     Olivtrast     Tordo oliva

World: Africa from se Sudan and Ethiopia, south through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania as far as Malawi

Kenya: Mostly absent from the east of the country. A common and widespread species in highland wooded and forest areas (including gardens)

There is still much debate over the classification of the Olive Thrushes with some authorities considering the Taita Thrush and the Northern Olive Thrush as 2 races of the same species.

This is a distinctive bird which forages on open ground as well as among leaf litter on woodland and forest floors. Its orange beak and eye-ring, along with the duller orange of the flanks and belly make it easy to identify. The only similar species is the African Thrush whose range it overlaps (generally at around 2000m). The latter species is paler, with a yellow bill and brown orbital ring